Page 37 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

18

SUMMER

The museum’s towering entrance loomed ahead, its stone arches and glass doors gleaming in the sunlight. Ava practically vibrated with excitement beside me, bouncing on her toes as she clutched Bunny tightly.

“Are we going to see dinosaurs first?” she asked, her voice breathless.

“Whatever you want, sweetheart,” I said, smiling at her enthusiasm.

“Dinosaurs it is,” Enzo said, stepping up beside us. He had one hand casually tucked in his pocket, the other holding Ava’s museum ticket. “Ready, partner?”

“Ready!” Ava squealed, grabbing his free hand and pulling him toward the entrance.

I trailed behind them, my chest tightening as I watched the way Ava looked at him—with trust, with joy, with the kind of adoration that left no room for doubt.

Inside,Ava led the charge, dragging Enzo through the echoing halls toward the dinosaur exhibit. The enormous skeletons towered over us, their shadows stretching across the polished floors.

“Look!” Ava pointed up at a massive T. rex. “It’s so big!”

“Bigger than Bunny, huh?” Enzo said, crouching beside her.

“Way bigger,” she said, giggling.

As they read the plaques together, I hung back, my hands clasped tightly in front of me. Watching them was both heartwarming and excruciating. Enzo didn’t just tolerate Ava’s endless questions—he encouraged them, meeting her curiosity with patience and enthusiasm.

When we movedto the next exhibit, Ava stopped in front of a smaller skeleton—a velociraptor. She tilted her head, studying it carefully.

“This one looks fast,” she said.

“They were,” Enzo said, crouching down again. “Velociraptors were some of the fastest dinosaurs. Kind of like you when you’re running around the park.”

Ava grinned, looking up at him. “Do you like velociraptors, too?”

“They’re one of my favorites,” he said.

“Me too!” Ava said, her eyes lighting up. “See, Mommy? We’re the same!”

My chest tightened, but I forced a smile. “That’s great, sweetheart.”

Enzo glanced at me, his expression thoughtful.

As we movedthrough the museum, Ava’s observations became more pointed.

“You like puzzles, right, Enzo?” she asked as we passed an interactive display about fossil assembly.

“Love them,” he said with a grin.

“Me too!” she said proudly. “Mommy always says I’m just like you.”

Enzo’s brow lifted, and he glanced at me again. “Does she now?”

I laughed nervously, stepping forward to guide Ava to the next exhibit. “She’s just connecting the dots, that’s all.”

“Smart kid,” Enzo said, his tone light but his gaze lingering on me.

At the hands-on science center,Ava was in her element, bouncing between the exhibits with Enzo close behind. She stopped at a table filled with rocks and minerals, eagerly picking up a smooth purple stone.

“This one’s pretty,” she said, holding it up.

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