Page 60 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

“Look, Daddy!” she said, pointing to a butterfly resting on a nearby branch.

Enzo crouched down beside her, his voice quiet as he explained how the butterfly’s wings helped it fly. Ava listened intently, her little brow furrowed in concentration.

I trailed behind them, watching their interaction with a soft smile. It felt so natural, so easy, like this was how things were always meant to be.

We reacheda small clearing overlooking the lake, the view breathtaking in its simplicity. Ava ran ahead, her curls bouncing as she turned in a slow circle.

“It’s so pretty!” she exclaimed.

“It is,” I said, kneeling beside her. “Want to take a picture?”

“Yes!” she said eagerly, holding up Bunny for good measure.

Enzo joined us, crouching on the other side of Ava as I held up my phone. “Say cheese!”

“Cheese!” Ava giggled, Bunny tucked under her arm.

The picture was perfect—Ava in the middle, her smile wide and full of joy, with Enzo and me on either side of her, our expressions soft and content.

Looking at the screen, I felt a warmth I hadn’t realized I’d been missing.

That evening, Elaine and Richard returned from their own quiet day in town. As the sun set, we all gathered on the porch, sipping lemonade and sharing stories. Ava sat on Enzo’s lap, her head resting against his chest as he ran a hand through her curls.

“You three look so happy,” Elaine said, her voice soft but pointed.

“We are,” Enzo said, his gaze shifting to me.

“You should think about making it official,” Elaine added with a sly smile.

“Mom,” Enzo said, laughing.

“What?” she said innocently. “I’m just saying, you already act like a family. Why not make it real?”

My cheeks warmed, and I looked down at my glass.

“She’s got a point,” Richard said, winking at me. “You all fit together so well.”

After Ava was tuckedinto bed, exhausted from the day’s adventures, Enzo and I found ourselves alone on the porch again. The lake was calm, the stars reflecting on its surface like tiny diamonds.

“They’re not wrong,” Enzo said, breaking the comfortable silence.

“About what?” I asked, though I already knew.

“About us,” he said, turning to face me. “About how well we fit together.”

I looked at him, my chest tightening. “It’s not that simple, Enzo.”

“Why not?” he asked, his voice gentle but firm. “We’ve been through so much, Summer. And somehow, we’ve made it here. Together. Don’t you think that means something?”

I swallowed hard, my emotions swirling. “It’s just… scary. Letting myself believe this could work.”

He reached over, taking my hand in his. “It’s okay to be scared. I’m scared too. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.”

I met his gaze, his words sinking in. “You really think we can do this?”

“I know we can,” he said, his voice steady. “For Ava. For us.”

For a moment, I let myself imagine it—a life with Enzo, Ava growing up with her dad by her side, the three of us building something real.

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