22. Enzo
22
ENZO
T he parking lot outside the science fair buzzed with activity—families unloading strollers, kids chattering excitedly, and volunteers directing people toward the main entrance. I stepped out of the car, holding Ava’s hand as she hopped out, clutching Bunny tightly under her arm.
“Is it going to be big?” she asked, her eyes wide as she craned her neck to look at the tall banners flapping in the breeze.
“Very big,” I said, smiling. “There are going to be lots of cool experiments, games, and maybe even a few surprises.”
“Like what?” she asked eagerly.
“You’ll have to wait and see,” I teased, tugging her gently toward the entrance.
Inside, the convention center was alive with energy. Booths lined the walls, each one featuring colorful signs and interactive displays. Kids crowded around tables filled with beakers, magnets, and models of the solar system. Ava’s eyes widened as she took it all in, her excitement bubbling over.
“Can we go there first?” she asked, pointing to a booth with a spinning vortex of colored smoke.
“Lead the way, partner,” I said, letting her pull me through the crowd.
The demonstrator at the booth explained how the smoke vortex worked, using air pressure to create the swirling effect. Ava was mesmerized, her little hands gripping the edge of the table as she leaned forward to watch.
“It looks like magic!” she said, her voice full of wonder.
“It’s science,” I said, crouching beside her. “Even cooler than magic.”
She looked at me, her face serious. “Do you know how it works, Enzo?”
“I do,” I said, smiling. “But I think you’ll figure it out soon enough. You’re already smarter than I was at your age.”
Her face lit up at the compliment. “Really?”
“Really,” I said, ruffling her curls.
We spent the next hour exploring the fair. At one booth, Ava tried her hand at building a bridge with foam blocks, carefully stacking pieces while I held Bunny for her. At another, she laughed as she made slime, her hands sticky with glittery goo.
“You’re a natural scientist,” I said as she proudly held up her slime creation.
“I’m going to be a scientist and a doctor,” she declared.
I smiled, my chest tightening. “That’s an impressive plan.”
“Do you think I can do it?” she asked, looking up at me with wide, earnest eyes.
“I know you can,” I said firmly.
She grinned, then paused, her brow furrowing slightly. “Enzo?”
“Yeah?” I said, crouching down to her level.
“Why do you spend so much time with us?” she asked, tilting her head.
The question caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to answer.
“Well,” I said carefully, “because you and your mom are very important to me.”
She blinked, her expression thoughtful. “Like family?”
“Exactly,” I said softly, my throat tightening.
She seemed satisfied with that answer, nodding before running off to the next booth.
By the time we reached the food court, Ava was practically bouncing with energy despite the long afternoon. I ordered us ice cream, letting her pick her favorite flavor—chocolate with sprinkles, of course.
We found a small table by the window, the sunlight streaming in as she licked her cone happily.
“This is the best day ever,” she said between bites.
“Yeah?” I said, smiling.
“Yeah,” she said, swinging her legs. “You’re the best, Enzo.”
My chest ached at her words, and I couldn’t help but smile. “You’re pretty great yourself, kiddo. In fact, you’re my favorite scientist.”
She giggled, holding up her cone like a toast. “And you’re my favorite Enzo!”
I laughed, clinking my cone gently against hers.
As we finished our ice cream, I glanced at the time and realized Summer would be here soon. I led Ava back to the main lobby, where she spotted a booth selling stuffed animals and begged to look.
“Do you think Bunny needs a friend?” I asked, kneeling beside her as she inspected the options.
“Maybe a dinosaur,” she said thoughtfully, holding up a bright green plush.
“Good choice,” I said, handing over the cash to the vendor.
She hugged the dinosaur tightly, her face glowing with happiness.
I spotted Summer as she walked through the entrance, her gaze sweeping the room before landing on us. She smiled faintly, her posture relaxing as she approached.
“Mommy!” Ava called, running to her with Bunny in one hand and the dinosaur in the other. “Look what Enzo got me!”
“A dinosaur?” Summer said, crouching to examine the toy. “Very cool.”
“It’s for Bunny,” Ava explained. “Now he has a friend.”
“That’s very thoughtful,” Summer said, glancing at me with a mixture of gratitude and something else I couldn’t quite place.
As we walked to the car, Ava chattered about the science fair, recounting every detail with enthusiasm. Summer listened patiently, nodding and smiling at all the right moments.
“Sounds like you had a great time,” she said.
“The best!” Ava said, climbing into her booster seat.
I helped buckle her in, then stepped back as Summer shut the door.
“She had a blast,” I said, meeting her gaze.
“Thank you for taking her,” Summer said, her voice soft. “I could tell she loved every second of it.”
“I did, too,” I admitted.
There was a brief silence between us, the weight of everything unsaid lingering in the air.
“She asked me why I spend so much time with you two,” I said finally.
Summer’s eyes widened slightly. “What did you say?”
“That you’re important to me,” I said simply.
Her shoulders relaxed, and she nodded slowly. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I asked, tilting my head.
“For being there,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I felt a sudden urge to close the distance between us. But before I could say anything, Ava called out from the car, breaking the moment.
“Mommy, can we go home now?”
“Coming, sweetheart,” Summer said, glancing at me one last time before turning away.
As I watched them drive off, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were on the edge of something big—something that could change everything.