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Humphrey stood outside the small local police station in Shipton Abbott, taking in the fresh sea air and the sound of waves crashing against the nearby shore, which was only a short walk away from the station.
Finally away from the busy life of London and living with his new fiancé, life couldn’t be better.
He was eager to start his new job, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty. He already had the experience of being the… odd one out in Saint Marie, five years ago, but this time he was going from London to Devon, does he really have an excuse anymore?
But all of those worries vanished as soon as he walked into the station. His new boss greeted him and introduced him to his new team. It helped him feel welcome, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with the friendly faces around him.
Just as he was getting settled in, his boss had one more surprise for him. "I know it's your first day, Humphrey, so I've arranged for another DI to accompany you on your first case. That way you can ease into things a bit easier."
His heart admittedly sank at that moment. He didn't want to be treated like a novice, just because he was new. But before he could object, his boss turned to the door and gestured for someone to enter. And to his utter shock and delight, in walked an old friend.
"Jack bloody Mooney!" He exclaimed as the wave of nostalgia washed over him. They shook hands, but he couldn't help but pull him into a hug. "I can't believe it!"
"It's been too long, Humphrey!" He replied with a familiar grin.
Maybe it wasn’t too bad that he was working his first case with another DI after all. It was like a piece of Saint Marie had followed him all the way to Shipton Abbott.
After a long day of solving crimes, the two detectives retreated to a local pub to catch up and reminisce about their lives beyond paradise.
While they were sitting at the bar, Humphrey stared out aimlessly at the boats bobbing in the port, taking a sip of his pint and smiling to himself before hearing, "You look like a man in love." then realised that Jack must have noticed him and replied, "I'm engaged."
"My god! That's wonderful!" Jack practically shouted, with a glass in the air and waving it about in celebration. "Martha?"
He nodded in agreement. "We're planning on getting married next year. I actually have you to thank for that, Jack."
Raising an eyebrow in surprise, he put a hand to his heart. "Thank me?"
"Our case together in London; you encouraged me to go to her, and tell her how I felt."
"The surveillance, right? Life's too short to waste time on what-ifs." Jack said wisely. "But don't let me take all the credit, now. I'm sure you did most of the work."
With a chuckle, he smiled warmly. "This is Martha's hometown," He said while looking around at the wooden walls of the pub. "We moved here about a week ago."
"Ah, moving. Never been fond of that, how's it been going for you?"
"Oh, you know, the usual; boxes flown everywhere, no mattress on the bed, no Wi-Fi. But, I love it, it's a new chapter in my life and this is the messy representation of it."
"Sounds about right." Jack agreed with a sip of his wine.
"You should come over sometime and meet Martha. But maybe when it's a bit more of a... uh, home. Martha wants to open her own restaurant; that will probably be done before the house at this rate."
Jack laughed. "I'll be right over and even lend a hand, if you'd like."
"Good!" Maybe he said a little too eagerly. "We need all the help we can get."
The two men sat in comfortable silence and looked out the large windows of the pub over at the Devonshire coast.
After a moment of contemplation, Humphrey broke the quietude. "You don't get this in London."
"Yeah, but I can think of another place you might."
"You're right about that." He smiles, swirling the last bit of his drink in his glass. "Do you miss it?"
"What? Waking up to heat stroke, sand everywhere and a pet lizard doing his business all over my notes? Of course, I do." Jack says with a smirk, "And you?"
"I miss it. The island, the people, the cases. But in the end, I know this is the right decision for me. And who knows, maybe one day we'll come back to Saint Marie. I recently had a dream we had the wedding there.”
"I don't think I've heard of anything more perfect in my life, having a wedding in the place it all began."
"You're invited, of course. Bring your daughter too." He said with intention. "How is she?"
"Siobhan's doing wonders for herself," He could tell how much joy it gave Jack to talk about her. "She finished uni a few years ago and has a lovely job. I'm so proud of her."
"I'm not surprised." He smiled. "Do you live together?"
"Yes. Just me and her, but she has entered the gruelling process of finding somewhere to live."
Wincing at the thought, he remembered how difficult it was for him and Martha to move. "I meant to ask, did you ever meet anyone in the Caribbean?"
"I suppose there was a sort of holiday romance," Jack says coyly. "But it didn't really work out. But it's okay, I'm happy with how I am right now, I can focus on being with my daughter."
With an understanding nod, Humphrey raised his glass. "To new beginnings."
"To new beginnings," and they clink their drinks.
Humphrey returned home and opened the door to a variety of home-cooked smells. Martha had started making dinner, Shepard's pie, a personal favourite of his. He knew he was right to marry her next year.
"Darling!" He called out. "You'll never guess who I just saw!"