17. Summer
17
SUMMER
T he knock at the door came just as I was folding laundry in the living room. Ava was sprawled on the carpet, surrounded by stuffed animals and a new drawing she was working on.
“Coming!” I called, setting down a stack of towels.
When I opened the door, there he was—Enzo, dressed casually in jeans and a light sweater, holding a small box wrapped in shiny purple paper.
“Hi,” I said, blinking in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d stop by,” he said with an easy smile. “I had some free time, and I brought something for Ava.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said, stepping aside to let him in.
“I wanted to,” he said, shrugging as he walked inside. His gaze swept over the room before landing on Ava, who hadn’t yet noticed him. “Hi, Ava!”
Ava’s head snapped up, her face breaking into a grin. “Enzo!”
She jumped up, abandoning her crayons and paper, and ran to him. He crouched down, holding out the small gift. “This is for you.”
Her eyes lit up as she took the box. “What is it?”
“Open it and see,” he said.
She tore into the paper with the enthusiasm only a four-year-old could muster, revealing a set of colorful magnetic building tiles.
“It’s a castle set!” she exclaimed, holding it up for me to see.
“It’s so you can build even better castles for Bunny,” Enzo said, smiling.
“Thank you!” Ava said, throwing her arms around his neck.
“You’re welcome, kiddo,” he said, hugging her back.
Within minutes, Ava was on the floor, fully immersed in her new toy. She barely looked up as Enzo joined me in the kitchen.
“She loves it,” I said, leaning against the counter.
“She’s easy to shop for,” he said, his tone light.
“Still, you didn’t have to,” I said, crossing my arms. “You’re spoiling her.”
“She deserves it,” he said simply, his gaze soft.
I looked away, focusing on the kettle on the stove even though I hadn’t turned it on. “So, is this a social visit?”
“Partly,” he said, his voice casual. “And partly because I’ve been thinking.”
“About what?” I asked, keeping my tone light.
“About something Ava said at the gardens,” he said, leaning against the counter opposite me.
My chest tightened, but I forced a neutral expression. “She says a lot of things.”
“She mentioned that you told her stories about me,” he said, his eyes fixed on mine. “Stuff about my childhood.”
I shrugged, keeping my voice steady. “She asks a lot of questions. I told her about people who’ve been important in my life. That’s all.”
“Important?” he repeated, his tone shifting slightly.
I avoided his gaze, busying myself by grabbing mugs from the cupboard. “You know what I mean.”
“Do I?” he asked, stepping closer.
His voice wasn’t accusatory, but it was enough to make my pulse quicken. “What are you getting at, Enzo?”
He crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “When did you move to the city, Summer?”
The question caught me off guard. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Just curious,” he said, his tone casual, though his eyes were sharp.
I hesitated, my fingers tightening around the mug in my hands. “About four years ago.”
He nodded slowly, his gaze not leaving mine. “Right after Ava was born?”
“More or less,” I said, keeping my voice even.
“And her father?” he asked, his tone careful.
My stomach flipped, but I forced myself to stay calm. “What about him?”
“Is he in the picture?” Enzo asked, his voice low.
I set the mug down on the counter a little harder than I meant to. “That’s none of your business.”
His brows furrowed, and he stepped closer. “I think it is, Summer.”
My chest tightened, and I crossed my arms defensively. “Why? Why do you suddenly care so much about my past?”
“Because I care about Ava,” he said firmly. “And because I’m starting to think there’s something you’re not telling me.”
I opened my mouth to respond but closed it again, my mind scrambling for the right words.
In the living room, Ava’s laughter broke the tension.
“Mommy! Look at what I made!” she called, holding up a tower of magnetic tiles.
I took the opportunity to escape, walking over to admire her creation. “That’s amazing, sweetheart.”
“Enzo helped,” she said proudly.
He followed me into the room, his expression softer as he crouched beside Ava. “You’re a natural builder.”
“Can we make another one?” Ava asked, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.
“Of course,” he said, smiling.
I stood back, watching as they worked together. Enzo’s patience with her was unmatched, and Ava’s joy was contagious. It was a beautiful sight—one that made my chest ache with guilt.
As the afternoon wore on, Enzo eventually stood, brushing his hands off. “I should get going.”
Ava pouted, clutching Bunny. “Do you have to?”
“I’ll see you soon,” he promised, ruffling her hair.
She smiled, hugging him tightly before running back to her tower.
At the door, he turned to me, his expression serious. “Summer, we need to have a real conversation soon.”
The weight of his words settled over me like a storm cloud. “About what?”
“You know what,” he said quietly.
Before I could respond, he walked out, leaving me standing there, shaken and unsure of what to do next.