Page 54 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

Enzo leaned forward, his gaze steady. “We did what we thought was best for Ava. But this isn’t about the past—it’s about moving forward.”

Elaine’s voice was gentle but curious. “Are you still pretending?”

I hesitated, glancing at Enzo. He gave me a small, reassuring smile before answering.

“No,” he said. “What we’re building now is real. For Ava. And for us.”

The silencethat followed felt heavy, but not hostile. Slowly, Elaine smiled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You’ve always been a wonderful son, Enzo. And Summer, you’ve raised an incredible little girl. I’m so proud of both of you.”

Richard nodded, his expression softening. “It’s a lot to process, but you’re doing the right thing now. That’s what matters.”

Beth leaned back, crossing her arms. “Well, you’ve always been full of surprises, Enzo.”

Enzo chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing. “You have no idea.”

After dinner,Elaine pulled me aside as the others cleared the table. “You’re a strong woman, Summer. But you don’t have to do this alone anymore.”

I nodded, tears pricking my eyes again. “Thank you. That means more than you know.”

She smiled, squeezing my hands. “In fact, I think you all need some time together. Just the three of you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, frowning slightly.

Elaine’s smile widened. “Richard and I have a cabin by the lake. It’s peaceful, perfect for a little getaway. I’ll take care of everything. You just focus on being a family.”

My chest tightened, a mix of gratitude and anxiety swirling within me. “That sounds wonderful. Thank you.”

As the nightwound down and Enzo walked me to the car, I couldn’t help but feel a small spark of hope.

“They took it better than I expected,” I said softly.

“They love Ava,” he said simply. “And they’ll love her even more with time.”

I glanced up at him, my heart full. “Thank you, Enzo. For everything.”

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “This is just the beginning, Summer.”

As I drove home, Ava sleeping soundly in the backseat, I felt a quiet sense of peace settle over me.

Maybe, just maybe, we were finally on the right path.

27

SUMMER

The café was bustling with the usual weekend morning crowd—couples sharing pastries, friends chatting over steaming mugs, and parents trying to wrangle energetic toddlers. I spotted Mia at a corner table, her dark hair pulled into a loose braid and a large cappuccino in front of her.

“Hey,” I said, sliding into the chair across from her.

She looked up, her eyes immediately narrowing with curiosity. “Uh-oh. That look on your face means there’s drama. Spill.”

I managed a weak smile, shrugging out of my jacket. “Is it that obvious?”

“Painfully,” she said, smirking. “Let me guess—this is about Enzo?”

I sighed, picking up the menu even though I already knew what I wanted. “What else?”

“Called it,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “Okay, what happened this time?”

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