Page 95 of Riding the Waves

“I hate the painting and I also hate a lot of the furniture and furnishings in this house.”

Amy tilted her head. “But we’re looking for a new house.”

“Do you actually want to move though?”

“Yes,” she said slowly. “That’s why we’ve been house-hunting.”

“I know, but I get the feeling you’d rather stay here.”

“I don’t want to stay here,” she said, entirely confused by the conversation.

“Because it’s too expensive,” Damian said. “But I thought about it and if I sold my house––”

“No,” she said, cutting him off.

“I could also sell the surf shack––”

“Definitely not!”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind. I’d just need us to redecorate, that’s all.”

Tears filled Amy’s eyes and she wiped them away. “You’re not selling your house or the shack. And we’re not going to live here.”

“It’s honestly okay with me.” He took her hand and squeezed it gently. “I just want you to be happy.”

“I won’t be happy if we stay here.”

His eyebrows drew together. “I saw the way you looked at all the houses we looked around. Like you were comparing them to this place and finding everything lacking.”

“I did find them lacking,” she admitted, trying to smile. “But it wasn’t because I was comparing them to this place. I was comparing them to your house.”

“What?”

“If I could choose where to live I’d choose your house. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about making you miserable.”

“Moving to Oxford won’t make me miserable.”

“I think it will,” she said. “Not because I think you don’t love us enough. I just think the sea and surfing is a part of who you are. I love that about you. I always have.”

“I’ll still be in Hope Cove for the summers.”

Amy frowned. “It’s not only that I think you’d be happier there. I loved being in Hope Cove over the summer. When the four of us were at your house it just felt right. Like that’s where we’re supposed to be.”

Damian opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. “We talked about this … about how a move would be too disruptive for the boys.”

“I know and I still don’t know if it’s the right thing for the boys. Could I really take them away from their school and their friends … from Anthony?”

Damian’s thoughtful gaze was fixed on the floor. “There are schools in Devon,” he said with a shrug. “And they’d make new friends.”

“Yeah,” Amy said, her voice merely a whisper.

“I don’t think I can give impartial advice when it comes to Anthony.”

“I know.” She tilted her head back and sighed. “I don’t know what the best thing for Billy and Marty is. I wish…” She stopped, realising she’d almost said something utterly stupid.

“You wish what?”

“Nothing. I just wish I knew what to do for the best.”

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