Page 5 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

I shook my head, forcing myself back into work mode. There was no point in jumping to conclusions or letting my imagination run wild. I was her doctor first, and that’s all that mattered.

When I stepped into Ava’s room later that afternoon, she was sitting cross-legged on the exam table, scribbling furiously in a coloring book. Summer sat beside her, scrolling throughher phone but glancing up every few seconds, her protective instincts sharp.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” I said with a smile.

Ava looked up, grinning. “Hi, Dr. Pearson!”

“Hi, Ava. What are you drawing?” I asked, leaning over to look at her book.

“It’s a princess castle,” she said, holding it up proudly. “But the princess has a dragon friend. He’s nice, though. He doesn’t breathe fire at anyone.”

I chuckled. “A friendly dragon? I like that. You’ll have to color it in and show me when it’s done.”

“I will!” she promised, picking up a green crayon.

I turned my attention to Summer, who was watching us with an unreadable expression. “How’s she feeling today?”

“She’s fine,” Summer said, her tone clipped. “Her knee’s a little sore, but nothing she can’t handle.”

“Good,” I said, sitting down across from them. “I just want to check in before the surgery. Make sure everything’s on track.”

Summer nodded, but her body language was stiff. She was still holding something back, and I couldn’t ignore the tension between us.

As I examined Ava’s knee, I decided to ease into the questions that had been swirling in my mind since yesterday. “Ava,” I said casually, “do you like puzzles?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “I love puzzles! Mommy got me one with a hundred pieces, and I finished it all by myself!”

“Wow,” I said, genuinely impressed. “That’s amazing. I used to love puzzles when I was your age, too.”

Summer stiffened slightly, but I kept my focus on Ava.

“What else do you like to do?” I asked.

“Um… I like drawing and building stuff with blocks,” she said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “And I like helping Mommy cook. We make pancakes on Saturdays!”

“Pancakes, huh? What’s your favorite topping?”

“Chocolate chips!” she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

“That’s the best choice,” I said with a grin.

As Ava chatted animatedly, I caught glimpses of myself in her expressions—in the way her face lit up when she talked about something she loved, in the little furrow of her brow when she was thinking.

When I glanced at Summer, her jaw was tight, and she was avoiding my gaze. She knew what I was seeing, too.

“Ava,” I said after a moment, “can you tell me about your dad? Does he like puzzles, too?”

Summer’s head snapped toward me, her eyes sharp. “Enzo?—”

“What?” I said innocently, shrugging. “I’m just curious.”

Ava blinked at me, then looked at her mom, confused. “I don’t have a daddy,” she said matter-of-factly.

My heart thudded. “Oh,” I said gently. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

Summer shot me a warning look. “Ava, why don’t you finish your drawing while I talk to Dr. Pearson?”

“Okay, Mommy,” Ava said, turning back to her coloring book without a second thought.

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