Page 57 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

“That’s a good one,” I said, smiling.

“It’s Bunny’s new treasure,” she said seriously, tucking it into her small backpack.

Later,back at the cabin, Ava played on the porch while Enzo and I sat nearby, watching her as the sun began to dip lower in the sky.

“She’s having the time of her life,” Enzo said, his voice quiet.

“She is,” I said, a soft smile tugging at my lips. “Thank you for this.”

“For what?” he asked, glancing at me.

“For making her so happy,” I said, meeting his gaze.

“She makes it easy,” he said simply, his expression softening.

For a moment, we sat in silence, the sound of the wind rustling through the trees wrapping around us.

That evening,we made dinner together in the cabin’s cozy kitchen. Enzo insisted on doing most of the work, claiming it was his turn to cook. Ava helped by handing him ingredients and taste-testing the sauce.

“Perfect,” she declared after taking a tiny spoonful, earning a laugh from both of us.

We ate by candlelight at the dining table, the soft glow making the moment feel almost magical. Ava chattered happily about her day, her voice filling the space with warmth.

“I love it here,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “Can we stay forever?”

“Forever’s a long time, kiddo,” Enzo said, smiling.

“Okay, maybe just for a little while,” she said, giggling.

After Ava was tuckedinto bed, her soft snores drifting down the hallway, Enzo and I found ourselves back on the porch. The stars were bright above us, their light reflecting off the still surface of the lake.

“This feels… different,” I said softly, wrapping my arms around myself.

“It does,” he agreed, leaning against the railing.

I hesitated, searching for the right words. “It’s hard, letting myself believe this could work. That we could work.”

Enzo turned to face me, his expression earnest. “I know it’s scary, Summer. But I think we owe it to Ava—to ourselves—to try.”

His words hit me harder than I expected, and I looked away, blinking back tears. “What if we fail?”

“What if we don’t?” he countered gently.

I met his gaze, my chest tightening. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not,” he said, stepping closer. “But I think it’s worth it.”

For a moment, the world seemed to shrink, the space between us charged with unspoken words and emotions.

“Goodnight, Enzo,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Goodnight, Summer,” he said, his voice soft but steady.

As I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, I couldn’t help but wonder if this vacation was more than just a family getaway.

Maybe it was the beginning of something new.

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