Page 65 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

He raised an eyebrow, setting one of the containers on the small table beside me. “Humor me. You need to take care of yourself, Summer.”

I sighed but reached for the container, peeling back the lid to reveal a simple sandwich and some fruit. “Thanks,” I said quietly.

He smiled faintly, settling into the chair on the other side of Ava’s bed with his own container.

The room wasquiet except for the sound of our forks scraping against the plastic containers. Enzo broke the silence first, his voice light but tinged with weariness.

“Do you remember that time Ava insisted on wearing Bunny’s bow tie to preschool?”

I smiled despite myself, nodding. “She said he needed to look professional for show-and-tell.”

“She was so serious about it,” he said, chuckling softly. “The teacher told me later that Bunny’s tie got more attention than Ava’s whole presentation.”

I laughed, the sound surprising me with how natural it felt. “That sounds like her.”

We spent the next few minutes swapping more stories about Ava—her stubbornness, her creativity, the way she could light up a room with her laughter. It was bittersweet, but it reminded me of all the reasons we were here, fighting for her.

Later that evening,Elaine arrived with a tote bag of clean clothes and snacks. She breezed into the room with adetermined smile, her presence filling the space with a quiet strength.

“Time for you two to take a break,” she said, setting the bag on the counter.

“Mom, we’re fine,” Enzo started, but she cut him off with a pointed look.

“No arguments,” she said firmly. “Richard and I will sit with Ava for a while. You both need to rest.”

“I don’t want to leave her,” I said, my voice wavering.

“You’re not leaving her,” Elaine said gently, resting a hand on my shoulder. “You’re letting us help. She’ll be in good hands.”

I glanced at Enzo, who gave me a small nod. Reluctantly, I stood, gathering my things.

Enzoand I wandered down to the hospital courtyard, the cool night air a welcome change from the stuffy room. We found a bench under a tree, the faint sound of crickets filling the silence.

“You think she’ll be okay?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I do,” Enzo said, his tone steady. “She’s strong, Summer. Stronger than either of us.”

I smiled faintly, my hands twisting together in my lap. “I just hate seeing her like this. She’s so small, so… fragile.”

“She’s also resilient,” he said, his hand brushing against mine. “And she’s got us. We’re not letting her go through this alone.”

I looked at him, his calm confidence grounding me in a way nothing else could. “Thank you,” I said softly.

“For what?”

“For being here. For being you,” I said, my voice breaking slightly.

He smiled, his fingers lacing through mine. “Always.”

As the days passed,we fell into a rhythm. Enzo took charge of communicating with the medical team, his background as a doctor making him the perfect advocate for Ava. He asked questions I wouldn’t have even thought to ask, his determination evident in every interaction.

I stayed by Ava’s side, offering her as much comfort as I could. We colored pictures, read stories, and played quiet games to pass the time.

One night, as the sky darkened outside, Ava looked up at me, her big blue eyes filled with worry. “Mommy, am I going to be sick forever?”

I swallowed hard, brushing a hand over her curls. “No, sweetheart. You’re going to get better. The doctors are working hard to help you.”

“But it’s taking a long time,” she said softly, her lip trembling.

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