Page 2 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

Ava’s tears subsided a little, and she offered a small, shy smile. “Really?”

“Absolutely,” Enzo said, his eyes twinkling. “And I’ve met a lot of kids, so that’s saying something.”

I watched the exchange with a mixture of relief and unease. He was so natural with her, so good. Too good.

When he started stitching, I turned away, unable to watch the needle piercing her skin. Instead, I focused on Ava’s face, wiping away the last of her tears and whispering soft reassurances.

“All done,” Enzo announced a few minutes later, pulling off his gloves.

Ava blinked at him, her small hand brushing over the bandage he’d placed on her knee. “That’s it?”

“That’s it,” Enzo confirmed. “You were amazing.”

Ava grinned, her earlier fear forgotten. “Thank you, Dr. Pearson.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, standing. “Now, no running around for a few days, okay? You’ve got to let your knee heal.”

“Okay,” she said solemnly.

He glanced at me, and the weight of his gaze made my chest tighten. “Can I speak with you outside for a moment?”

I nodded, brushing Ava’s hair back. “I’ll be right outside, sweetheart.”

She nodded, already distracted by the cartoon Enzo had turned on for her before leaving the room.

Outside in the hallway, the air felt heavier. I crossed my arms over my chest, keeping my expression neutral.

“Summer,” Enzo said, his tone low, a mixture of confusion and frustration. “What’s going on? Why didn’t you—” He stopped, exhaling sharply. “That’s your daughter?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice firmer than I expected.

He searched my face, his eyes narrowing slightly. “How old is she?”

“Four,” I replied.

He fell silent, his gaze flickering back to the exam room door. “Four,” he repeated, almost to himself. Then his eyes snapped back to me. “Summer?—”

“Enzo,” I cut him off, my voice trembling now. “I didn’t plan for this to happen. I didn’t even know you worked here. This isn’t… I didn’t come here to?—”

“To what?” he asked, his voice sharp but quiet.

“To throw this at you,” I whispered. “Ava is my responsibility.”

He stared at me, his jaw tight. “She’s not just yours, is she?”

My breath hitched, and I looked away. I couldn’t answer that. Not here. Not now.

“I have to get back to her,” I said finally, turning toward the door.

“Summer.” His voice stopped me, and when I looked back, the anger in his expression was replaced with something softer, something I couldn’t quite face. “We’re not done here.”

I nodded once and slipped back into the room, my heart pounding harder than ever.

2

ENZO

The tension was thick as I walked back into the exam room. My mind was racing, but I couldn’t let it show. Ava was sitting on the table, swinging her legs back and forth, her face glowing with the kind of innocence that didn’t belong in situations like this. Summer sat beside her, her shoulders rigid, her lips pressed tightly together.

---