Page 29 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

When the lastpiece clicked into place, Ava threw her arms into the air. “We did it!”

The completed puzzle was beautiful—a colorful castle with turrets, flags, and a drawbridge.

“It’s perfect,” Ava said, her voice full of wonder.

“You did an amazing job,” Enzo said, giving her a high-five.

“We did,” she corrected, beaming.

Enzo laughed. “Fair enough.”

As Ava started arrangingher toys around the puzzle castle, I stood and started tidying up the scattered puzzle pieces. Enzo joined me, his expression thoughtful.

“She’s incredible,” he said softly.

“She is,” I agreed.

“She’s so smart and creative,” he continued. “And she has the biggest heart. You’ve done an amazing job raising her, Summer.”

“Thank you,” I said, my voice tight.

He paused, studying me. “You don’t have to do it all alone, you know.”

I looked away, my chest tightening. “I’m used to it.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it,” he said gently.

I didn’t respond, unsure of what to say.

As Enzo gotready to leave, Ava ran up to him, throwing her arms around his legs. “Thank you for the puzzle, Enzo!”

“You’re welcome,” he said, crouching to hug her back. “I’m glad you liked it.”

“I love it,” she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

He smiled, ruffling her hair before standing. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Okay!” Ava said, waving as he headed for the door.

I followed him, hesitating as he opened it.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

He turned to me, his gaze steady. “For what?”

“For… everything,” I said, struggling to find the right words.

He nodded, his smile soft. “You don’t have to thank me, Summer. I’m just doing what feels right.”

As he walked out into the night, I watched him go, the weight of his words lingering in the air.

15

SUMMER

The smell of antiseptic and freshly brewed coffee greeted me as I stepped into the clinic. It was the kind of combination that shouldn’t have worked but somehow felt comforting. The waiting area was modest, with clean white walls, cheerful posters promoting wellness, and a small play area for kids tucked into one corner.

Ava held my hand tightly, her other hand clutching Bunny. “Mommy, why are we here?”

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