Page 21 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

But Ava had lit up at the sight of him, running into his arms like she’d been waiting all day for him to show up. And how could I deny her that?

“Faster, Dr. Pearson!”Ava’s voice rang out from the living room.

“It’s Enzo, remember?” he replied, his tone patient. “And if I go any faster, Bunny’s going to fall out of the car!”

“It’s okay!” Ava said, giggling. “Bunny loves it!”

I peeked around the corner, catching a glimpse of the scene. Enzo was sitting cross-legged on the floor, a plastic car in one hand and Bunny propped precariously inside it. Ava was crouched next to him, her curls bouncing as she clapped her hands.

“Ready?” Enzo asked, glancing at her with a grin.

“Ready!” Ava said, her eyes sparkling.

He gave the car a gentle push, sending it rolling across the floor. Bunny wobbled but stayed in place, and Ava burst into another fit of giggles.

“You’re a natural driver,” Enzo said, pretending to examine Bunny. “I think you might need your own driver’s license.”

“Bunny doesn’t need a license!” Ava said, plopping down beside him. “He’s a racecar driver!”

“Oh, well, that changes everything,” Enzo said, nodding seriously.

Their banter was so effortless, so natural, that it made my chest ache.

I turned backto the sink, scrubbing the plate harder than necessary. Enzo had only been in Ava’s life for a short time, but their connection was undeniable. She trusted him completely, and he seemed to know exactly how to make her laugh, how to make her feel safe.

It was everything I wanted for her.

And everything I was afraid of.

“Mommy!”Ava’s voice jolted me out of my thoughts.

I turned, forcing a smile as she ran into the kitchen, her cheeks flushed. “What is it, sweetheart?”

“Come see! Enzo made Bunny a racecar track!”

She grabbed my hand, tugging me toward the living room. Enzo was still on the floor, now surrounded by a maze of pillows and toy blocks.

“Ta-da!” he said, gesturing to the makeshift track. “Bunny’s personal racetrack. What do you think?”

I looked at Ava, who was practically bouncing with excitement, and then back at Enzo. “It’s… very impressive.”

Ava beamed, grabbing Bunny and plopping him into the car again. “Watch, Mommy! Bunny’s going to win the race!”

I perched on the edge of the couch as Ava and Enzo launched into a play-by-play of Bunny’s latest adventure. They were a perfect team, and the sight of them together filled me with a mix of emotions I couldn’t untangle.

As the afternoon wore on,I found myself retreating to the kitchen more and more, finding excuses to busy my hands. The more I watched them together, the harder it became to breathe.

I wasn’t used to this—to sharing Ava, to seeing her bond so quickly with someone else. She’d always been mine—my responsibility, my world.

Now, she had Enzo.

And he fit into her life so seamlessly that it scared me.

Later,as the sun dipped low in the sky, Enzo helped Ava clean up the living room. I hovered nearby, pretending to sort through mail while I listened to their conversation.

“Did you have fun today, Ava?” Enzo asked, kneeling to stack some blocks.

“Uh-huh!” Ava said, her face bright. “Can you come back tomorrow?”

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