Confrontation and acceptance

Chapter 26

"Hey mum, do you want to tell me what's going on?"

"No." she answered bluntly. "I think Phil's right, we should wait until Mickey and Jo are here. I really don't want to go through it right now."

"What hold has he got over you?" Sean was leaning on the wall, and looked like he was resisting the urge to punch something.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You've changed sweetheart. We can all see that." Caroline sat on the other side of her.

"Yeah well… I'm not the only one who's changed." She sighed heavily.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Sean stepped towards her.

"You've all changed. Mum and Dad, you don't respect my decisions, Sean, you don't care about me you don't listen and consider my feelings, Abi you keep trying to prove me wrong this time. But do you know who has changed the most?" she paused to look at their shocked expressions. "Phil. He changed for me and I'm glad I gave him a chance, because… I was happy before all of this. We were both happy." Tears were escaping her eyes.

Sean stormed out of the room and Sarah spoke.

"Sam, I'm going to stay with a friend… get out of your hair and I don't know what happened, but you've got enough to deal with at the moment."

"Sarah, Jack said to stay here in case anything happens."

"I'll be fine, my friend lives in Sunhill so I'll be nearby if something happens, and I know now that Phil will look after you."

"Ok then, thanks."

"I'll get my bags and call a cab." Sam sat in silence as Sarah left the room, followed by Steve and Abi and she was left alone with the two sets of parents.

"I know you think I'm making the wrong decision, but it is my decision. I love him."

"That's the one thing that's clear to me." Kelly closed the magazine. "But… if you don't mind me saying… you don't seem like his type."

"Yeah well… a few years ago, I wouldn't have thought he'd be my type, but everything changed, we changed."

Phil came back with the coffee and they sat in silence until the doorbell rang.

"I'll get that." Sam moved to get up.

"No, stay there I'll get it." Phil stood and made his way to the door, opening it to reveal a very nervous looking Jo and a solemn Mickey.

"Hi come in."

"Hi… how is she?" Jo asked almost in a whisper.

"How do you think?"

"And how is she coping?" Mickey asked.

"As good as can be expected, considering the circumstances."

"It's going to be hard for her, but there are a lot of people that care about her back at the nick."

"I know and we appreciate it, but I don't think it's going to help her, you know… them all finding out."

"I understand, but it's going to get worse before it gets better."

"Anyway… why don't we see what she's got to say." Jo said, walking through to the lounge.

"Hi Sam… how are you?"

"Mickey." She stood up and ran to hug him.

"It's good to see you. Jo and I are going to ask you some questions. Is that all right?"

"Yeah, let's just get it over with."

Phil re-entered the room with Jo.

"Oh Sam I'm so sorry. I never knew he was capable of that."

"Please… Abi is in the house. She's got the wrong idea enough times in the past few days."

"Ok, would you like to sit down." Mickey suggested. Sam sat on the sofa next to Phil and Jo began to ask the questions.

"So there are just a few things we need to go through. Do you want to go through what happened?"

"Jo… do you think that's necessary? We've got all that on tape at the station." Mickey interrupted.

"Maybe we should just go through the simple facts of the case." Jo continued. "At the hearing yesterday, bail was granted."

"Yes I know."

"The next court date has been pushed forward, so you should be up in court in a week or so."

"Well that's good I suppose." She muttered.

"Would you be willing to take the stand?" Jo sounded concerned.

"Yeah sure… whatever it takes."

"Yeah well Sam this is going to be hard on you. I mean I had Jack to turn to, and if you need someone to talk to, there is a counsellor I know, he's the one I spoke to…"

"Don't worry… I have Phil." Phil squeezed her hand gently and smiled at her and she smiled back.

"I hope you don't mind me asking… but are you two together?" Mickey had a look of surprise spread across his face.

"Yeah, but please don't…"

"Congratulations!" Sam was cut off when Jo threw her arms around them. "Finally!" she laughed. "Since when?"

"11 months ago." Sam smiled.

"You what?"

"Nearly 11 months."

"Really?"

"Yeah… Romania." Phil smiled.

"I knew it. I knew something was different between you when I came back."

"We're both really happy for you. Just take care of her yeah mate?"

"Don't worry Mickey… I will." Phil and Sam looked lovingly into each other's eyes and Phil swept the hair from her face and they smiled.

"I think that'll be all for now." Mickey smiled at them both and Phil got up to see them out. "You finally got your girl then?" Mickey laughed as they got to the front door.

"Yeah, she's the one Mickey. I can feel it. This is real."

"Congratulations again Phil. I'll see you later." Jo hugged Phil as her and Mickey walked out the door.

"Oh Phil can you tell Sam that Eva was asking after her, so she might turn up sometime soon."

"Eva?"

"Yeah."

"Eva…Sharpe?" he asked hopefully.

"Yeah."

"Great." Phil said sarcastically.

"Yeah well good luck."

"See ya."

"Bye." Mickey and Jo shouted as they left the house.

Thanks for reading, I will ud soon. Please review. Luv Sam xxx