Unexpected

DS Phil Hunter, sat at bar, he wasn't sure where. But at that moment he couldn't care less. Today had been one of the worst days of his life, horrible, terrible, heart breaking and depressing. The woman he loved and he had only told her so less than 24 hours earlier, had not only dumped him, but had taken leave to get away from him. The woman was DS Samantha Nixon, his colleague at Sun Hill. He would never have left her, she was the one for him, he was sure of it and he knew that he loved her. But now she was gone and he was alone, with his beer and crisps and her words replaying over and over in his head "It's never going to work" and "I don't want to lose you… as a mate". A mate, that's all she wanted to see him as, he loved her and she just wanted a friend. She had left him, kissed him, hugged him and left him at the top of the stairs. He felt broken in two or maybe even a million pieces. He wasn't used to this situation, he was usually the one doing the dumping or even perhaps the cheating, now that he knew what it was like perhaps he would be more careful.

"Phil, Phil Hunter" came a familiar voice from across the bar. He looked up and he saw the face of his ex-wife Cindy, she was walking towards him and amazingly she was smiling at him. The last time they had seen each other, a smile was not exchanged.

"Hey Cindy" he replied somewhat slurred.

"Hi Phil, I knew it was you, what are you doing here all alone? That isn't like you. Where is your latest squeeze?" she asked somewhat sarcastically.

"No, I know its not, but I've been dumped" he mumbled grumpily

"Oh, I'm sorry Phil" she whispered, her voice barely able to be heard

"Anyway, how are you going?" he asked. Then he noticed the gleaming diamond on Cindy's left hand, on the ring finger. "You got married again?" he asked, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

"Yes, I did" came the reply "seven months ago"

"Do I know him?" Phil asked

"No, I met him through a friend at work, there's something else too Phil, I'm pregnant"

Cindy's words hit him like a steam train, his ex-wife was married again, obviously happily and she was going to have a baby. Something he was never able to give her, and if he was honest to himself, he had always felt so guilty for it. Then here he was at a bar alone in the world with no Sam.

"That's great Cindy, I'm so pleased for you. You must be thrilled" he answered with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.

Cindy looked at the face of her ex-husband, he still looked the same, still as ruggedly handsome as he had always been. But she had heard things about Phil since she had left him. That he had changed a great deal, that he was no longer the man she had married. She knew that he had another child, her ex-brother in law had rang to tell her and she wasn't shocked. But then she had never known him to look so down and forlorn before. She wondered who had broken up with him and decided to ask him, especially since she had told him all of her secrets.

"So, who dumped you then?" she asked with a caring tone in her voice

"Sam" he replied, it even hurt him to say it out loud.

"You mean Samantha Nixon, who works at Sun Hill with you?"

"The very same"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Yeah I suppose" he said, actually glad that he had someone to talk to

"Come on then, let's go next door and get a coffee"

Phil followed Cindy out of the bar and into the street. They both went in next door and sat at a table near the window. He then began to tell Cindy everything, and for once he told her the truth. He started at the beginning even things that had happened whilst they were still married, when he hated her as the Acting DI, the trouble in the tunnels, Abi going missing, Kate and baby Alfie, the arrival of Stuart, Sam's miscarriage and the trip to Romania. Then he took a deep breath and with small voice he said "I even told her I loved her, only last night".

It was then that Cindy realised that he had changed, he had spoken about Sam with sincerity and had genuinely smiled when talking about their good times. She wondered if he had ever felt that way about her. She could see the sadness in his eyes and she knew that Phil obviously loved Sam very deeply. Even though Phil had hurt her many times in the past, even using her to get himself out of bad situations she still wanted him to be happy.

Phil looked up at Cindy, she had actually listened to him, paid attention and had even given him advice. It was so unusual to be speaking to her again and in reality if she had ever treated him the way he did her, he would seriously have run a mile in the opposite direction. But she didn't, she had stayed even though she had a new and happy life. He excused himself from the table and headed to the bathroom. He needed to control himself, he didn't need to break down in front of Cindy.

Cindy watched Phil walk quickly to the bathroom, she could tell that he was upset, perhaps even wanting to cry. She couldn't believe that this was over Samantha Nixon, Cindy was never sure of her, she had always seemed so cold and manipulative. But obviously Phil had grown to love her. Glancing down at the table, she noticed that Phil had left his phone in front of her. She picked it up and searched the phone book, and there it was the name Sam. She checked over her shoulder to see where Phil was and pressed call, it rang a few times and then Sam answered "Phil, I told you I needed time to sort myself out, I'll see you in a few weeks"

Cindy then replied "It's not Phil, it's Cindy"

"Cindy Hunter" came Sam's surprised voice

"Yes, but I'm Cindy Jennings now, we need to talk"

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