Page 50 of Riding the Waves

Leo smiled lightly. “She has a good job. Maybe she can pay for her own lifestyle choices.”

“We just aren’t compatible on a lot of fundamental issues. Not that it matters anyway,” he said, defeatedly. “Anthony’s about to swoop back in and sweep her off her feet again.”

“If she’s been enjoying spending time with you, she might not be so easily swept.”

Damian wished his friend was right, but in the back of his mind he was sure Anthony’s visit was about to cause a monumental shift in his summer.

CHAPTER 24

In the end, Amy picked the kids up from Damian on Saturday morning and told Anthony to come to her place. She couldn’t face the idea of spending time with the two of them together. Especially given how quiet Damian had been with her that week. She told herself he was probably tired. Even if he’d cut down on his working hours, overseeing the running of the shack still took time and energy. Dealing with that on top of taking care of the boys would be tiring for anyone.

That’s what she chose to believe was going on. She couldn’t let herself think there was more to his change in mood than that. If she entertained the notion that it was to do with Anthony’s visit, she also had to face the idea that Damian’s feelings for her were as strong as hers were for him. She didn’t know what she’d do with that information, and she had too much to worry about over Anthony’s visit as it was.

When he arrived, the boys jumped down from their spot on the windowsill and made a noisy dash for the door.

Emotions clogged in Amy’s throat as she stood in the doorway, watching Anthony and the boys engage in a playful greeting filled with hugs and kisses and tickling. In his denim shorts and navy-blue polo shirt, Anthony looked relaxed and casual. He was clean shaven, and as he approached her, she could see that his smooth brown hair had been recently cut.

“They’ve missed you,” she said, leaning into his embrace, surprised by the comfort in the familiarity of him.

“I missed them too.” He laughed as they battled for his attention around his legs. “It’s really great to see you all.”

“You too.” She extended her arm in a sweeping gesture to invite him inside. With the weather in full summer mode, she made him a coffee and they sat out on the patio. It was a while before the kids calmed down enough for her to get a word in, but once Anthony presented them with Lego sets they disappeared to the kitchen table to assemble them.

“How’s your summer going?” he asked, relaxing back in the chair and stretching his legs out in front of him. “Are you enjoying the work at the publishing company?”

“It’s only a voluntary thing,” she said, fairly sure he knew that. “I helped Lizzie out with a few things this week, but I’m doing it because I’m interested, not because there’s any pressure.” Also because she liked Lizzie and Emily and Scarlett so much that she was keen to do a good job if there was anything she could help with. That week she’d spent several hours in Tara’s bookshop reading the descriptions on the backs of books so she could help with tweaking some for Hope Cove Press.

“You enjoy it, though?” Anthony asked.

“I love it, actually. I’m learning a lot and it’s really interesting stuff. Plus, I have a newfound love of reading fiction.” She tipped her head towards the other end of the patio. “I’d hate to think how many hours I’ve spent on that sun lounger, lost in a book.”

“That’s great.” He looked at her fondly and with an intensity that made her shift in her seat. “I’m glad you found a way to relax.”

Amy opened her mouth to question him. Did he think she’d been incapable of relaxing before? That she was some kind of highly strung suburban mother? Deciding she probably didn’t want answers to her questions, she closed her mouth again.

Anthony sipped his coffee, keeping his gaze fixed on her. “How are things with Damian?”

“Fine.” Her voice came out a little too high-pitched. “The kids are loving their surf lessons and spending so much time with him. He also hired a local woman to help with them while he’s teaching. She’s young and autistic. I thought it was going to be a disaster, but it turned out brilliantly. She’s great with the boys. Especially Marty. He adores her.” She smiled gently and lowered her voice. “Oh, and Damian convinced the boys that his TV doesn’t work for kids’ programmes. They’re having a screen-free summer and they don’t even seem to care.”

“That’s great,” Anthony said, his features completely neutral. “But I was really asking how things are with you and Damian …”

She squinted and cocked her head.

“Come on,” Anthony said. “I know you trust Damian with the boys. There was no need for you to be here for the summer. The thing about you wanting to experience the workings of a publishing company was crap. Even if it wasn’t, you could have done it anywhere.”

“I did it here so I could be close to the boys,” she said firmly.

He smiled condescendingly. “You did it here to be close to Damian.”

Swallowing hard, she pushed her chair back and went to the door under the pretence of checking on the boys.

“What did you have planned for today?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest when she turned back to Anthony.

For a moment it seemed as though he might not let the subject drop, then he let out a resigned sigh. “I’ve got beach things. I thought about going for a drive and finding a nice beach. But if they’re sick of the beach I can do something else. I don’t mind. I just want to spend time with them.” He looked at her sorrowfully. “You too. We need to have a proper conversation about what happens after the summer.”

“Can we do that later? The boys are almost finished building.”

He nodded and went inside to see if they needed help.

---