20. Enzo
20
ENZO
T he clinic was quiet, a rare lull in the chaos of the day. I sat in my office, leaning back in my chair as I stared at my phone. I’d been meaning to call Summer all morning, but every time I thought about it, I stopped myself.
Something wasn’t adding up, and I needed answers.
Ava’s words from the museum replayed in my mind. “Mommy told me you liked castles when you were little, just like me.”
It wasn’t just that. It was everything—her fascination with puzzles, her quick mind, the way her laughter filled a room. She reminded me of someone I knew far too well.
Someone I couldn’t stop thinking about.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I wasn’t the kind of person to jump to conclusions, but this felt different. Too many things were lining up, and I couldn’t ignore them anymore.
By the time I arrived at Summer’s apartment that evening, my thoughts were racing. I knocked, my chest tightening as I heard the shuffle of footsteps behind the door.
“Enzo,” Summer said, opening the door with a mixture of surprise and hesitation. “What are you doing here?”
“We need to talk,” I said, stepping inside.
Her eyes darted toward the living room, where Ava was sprawled on the floor with Bunny and her new magnetic tiles. “Now?”
“Yes,” I said firmly, lowering my voice. “But not in front of Ava.”
She hesitated, glancing back at her daughter. “Ava, sweetheart, can you keep playing for a little while? Mommy and Enzo need to talk in the kitchen.”
“Okay!” Ava said brightly, not looking up from her toys.
Summer led me into the kitchen, her movements stiff. She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “What’s going on?”
I didn’t waste time. “Summer, I need to know the truth. About Ava.”
Her posture stiffened, and she looked away. “What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean,” I said, my tone sharper than I intended. “She’s smart, curious, and everything about her feels… familiar. Too familiar.”
“Enzo—”
“She looks like me, Summer,” I said, cutting her off. “She acts like me. And the things she says… It’s not just coincidence.”
Her eyes widened slightly, but she stayed silent.
“I’ve been trying to piece it together,” I continued, stepping closer. “You moved to the city around the time she was born. You’ve avoided every question about her father. And now, Ava’s saying things that only make sense if?—”
“Stop,” she said, her voice trembling.
I froze, staring at her.
She looked down, her hands gripping the counter. “Please, Enzo. Just… stop.”
The silence between us was deafening. I could feel the weight of her words before she even said them.
“Is she mine?” I asked quietly, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.
Summer’s head snapped up, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and guilt.
“Enzo…”
I stepped closer, my chest tightening. “I need to know, Summer. I deserve to know.”
Her lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came out. Her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the counter, and for a moment, I thought she might not answer.
Then, her shoulders slumped, and she let out a shaky breath.
“She’s yours,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.
“She’s mine,” I repeated, the reality of it sinking in.
Summer nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. “I didn’t know how to tell you. I thought I was doing the right thing—giving you a chance to focus on your career without?—”
“Without knowing my daughter existed?” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.
She flinched, and guilt immediately clawed at me.
“I thought I was protecting her,” she said quickly. “And you. I didn’t want to ruin your life, Enzo.”
“Ruin my life?” I said, shaking my head. “Summer, you didn’t give me a choice. You didn’t give me a chance to be there for her—for you.”
“I know,” she said, her voice breaking. “And I’m so sorry. I’ve regretted it every day.”
I turned away, running a hand through my hair as I tried to process everything. My daughter. Ava was my daughter.
And I hadn’t been there for her first steps, her first words, her first everything.
My chest ached with the weight of it all, but when I thought about Ava—her smile, her laugh, the way she looked up to me with so much trust—I knew I couldn’t walk away.
I turned back to Summer, my voice steadier now. “I need to be part of her life, Summer. No more secrets, no more lies. She deserves to know the truth.”
Summer nodded, wiping at her tears. “I know. And I want you to be there. I want you to be her father.”
Her words softened something in me, and I stepped closer, my voice gentler now. “This isn’t just about Ava, Summer. It’s about us, too. We need to figure this out—together.”
She nodded again, her shoulders shaking as she let out a shuddering breath.
From the living room, Ava’s voice rang out. “Mommy! Enzo! Come see what I built!”
Summer and I exchanged a look, the weight of our conversation still heavy in the air.
“We’ll figure this out,” I said quietly.
“We will,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
As we stepped into the living room, Ava looked up at us with her bright, trusting smile, completely unaware of the storm that had just passed.
And in that moment, I knew there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her.