Page 35 of Riding the Waves

“That’s all right. Emmy’s got some TV show she wants to watch, anyway.”

Emmy cracked up laughing. “It’s Grey’s Anatomy and Dad enjoys it as much as I do!”

“It’s very informative.” Hugh gave Emmy a playful glare as he stood and walked around the table. “I’m gaining a lot of medical knowledge.”

“Yeah, right. He likes it for the romance and he has a big crush on Izzie Stevens.”

“I think she’s a talented doctor, that’s all!” Hugh put an arm around Amy and gave her a squeeze. “It was great to catch up with you.”

“You too.” She hugged him back, then moved to do the same to Emmy.

“Can you read Scarlett’s book quickly and tell Dad it’s fine?” she murmured in her ear.

“I’ll get on it,” Amy said happily. Not that she needed an excuse to delve back into it. It would have been her evening entertainment even without Emmy’s request.

First, she had to get the boys on a video call with Anthony and hope it wouldn’t raise issues with Damian.

CHAPTER 16

Once Hugh and Emmy had left, Amy helped Damian get the boys showered and ready for bed. When she was cuddled up in bed with them and Damian had gone downstairs, she pulled her phone out.

“How about we see if Anthony would like to tell you a bedtime story tonight?” she whispered, feeling as though she was luring them to something illicit.

“Yes!” the boys cried.

“Can we ask him to tell us one about dragons?” Billy said.

“Let’s see …” Amy hit dial on a video call, hoping she could reach him now that the boys were excited about it.

The next moment his face filled the screen, and Amy had to tighten her grip on the phone so she didn’t drop it while the boys scrabbled to see Anthony.

“What are you eating there?” Anthony said happily. “You’ve grown already! You look like little surfer dudes too with your tanned skin.”

That got the boys telling him all about their surfing adventures. A lot of it was completely unintelligible as they excitedly shouted over each other. Anthony nodded along and threw a question in when he could. Ten minutes went by with their chaotic conversation before Amy finally shushed the boys and shifted the phone so she could see Anthony.

“Sorry,” she said. “They’re excited to speak to you.”

“It sounds like they’re having a brilliant time there,” he said, looking relaxed as he reclined on a leather couch in his new flat. Amy had looked around it once when she’d dropped the boys off and had been surprised by how differently he’d chosen to furnish it than their house. It was all brown leather and dark wood and had a decidedly masculine vibe. “Are you having a good time too?” he asked.

“I am actually. Everything’s going well.”

He ran his tongue over his lower lip. “You look as though you’ve caught the sun too. All three of you have a healthy glow.”

She smiled. “The weather’s been great.”

“I guess I should let you get those rascals to bed.”

“They’re actually hoping you might tell them a story …”

“Please,” Marty crooned, leaning into the frame.

“Can it be about dragons and pirates?” Billy asked.

“And surfing!” Marty added.

“That’s an interesting combination. Let me have a think …” It was something Amy had always been impressed by – Anthony’s ability to come up with wonderfully elaborate stories off the top of his head.

He did it again now – only hesitating for a moment before launching into his tale about a group of surfing dragons, living on a remote island, with pirates who tried to steal their surfboards. The ensuing sea battle had the boys utterly enthralled. Amy held the phone at an angle, allowing both boys to see Anthony, but they grew sleepier and snuggled down on the pillows as the story went on.

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