Page 63 of Riding the Waves

Amy wrinkled her nose. “He wants to give me the house.”

“What, you buy him out?”

“No. He says I should just have it. There’s still the mortgage to pay off, of course, but he wants me to stay in the house with the boys. He thinks that will be easier for them.”

“Right.” Damian sounded utterly shocked. “That was very generous of him.”

“He’s worried about not being able to see Billy and Marty. He swears he’s not just being generous to keep me on side, but it all feels a bit uncomfortable.”

“You wouldn’t stop him from seeing them, would you?”

“No. But you can see how he’d be concerned. He has no legal right to see them once we’re divorced.”

“As much as I find the whole situation slightly uncomfortable, I think it’s good for Billy and Marty to see him.”

“I do too. But I’m glad you think so. It makes everything easier if we’re all on the same page.”

“So will you stay in the house in Oxford? I guess that makes sense for you. Like Anthony says, it’s less upheaval for the boys.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. But the boys go back to school in a few weeks and I have no other plans, so I suppose we’ll stay where we are for the time being. I need to figure out what I do next in my life.”

The more she thought about it, the more she hated the idea of staying in that house. It had always felt too big, and even more so with just the three of them.

Besides, it had always felt more like Anthony’s house than hers. He’d had an interior designer before she’d moved in, so it was impeccably furnished, but it had always felt a bit too perfect to her. As though she messed the place up just by being there, and despite the cleaner who came twice a week, it still felt like a constant battle to keep the house looking nice.

It was one of those problems that brokered sympathy from absolutely no one. Poor her, with her gorgeous big house.

“Daddy!” Billy called, stomping over to them. “When will Gran and Grandpa be here?”

“Tomorrow,” Damian replied.

Amy had forgotten they were coming to visit again. “How long are they staying?” she asked.

“The whole week,” Damian replied.

“They’re staying at your place?”

“Yes.”

Billy dropped onto the sand between Damian’s bent legs. “Grandpa said he’ll show me how to carve wood with a special knife so I can make whatever I want. I’m going to make a spear.”

“That’s a great idea,” Damian said mockingly. “A weapon is exactly what you need.”

Billy’s eyes narrowed. “Are you doing sarcasm, Daddy?”

“Yes, Billy. That was definitely sarcasm.”

“I’m hungry,” he said. “Can we get burgers for lunch?”

“No. We’ll go home and see what’s in the fridge. Then we need to do some tidying up this afternoon so Gran and Grandpa don’t think we’re slobs.”

“Boring!” Billy said.

“I can take them out for the afternoon,” Amy offered. “If you’d rather get things done without them under your feet.”

“Thanks, but since it’s mostly their mess, I think they should help me tidy up.”

Amy nodded. “Need another volunteer?”

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