It's Been A Long Time... [Desperate Measures Sequel]

ThirtySix.

My brother and Charlotte together were so precious, even with a baby on the way. I had swallowed any jealousy I had and replaced it with love when I saw how happy they both were. It was a difficult decision but one I had to come to terms with. I was always going to be slightly jealous of anyone who could have a baby.

The first two days of my visit flew by, after spending the night and the next day at my brother's house, the second day I spent with my parents. The third day was a drag, I'd woken early from my old bed which was not as comfortable as I remembered, after showering I decided to go out. 

I didn't really have anyone else I wanted to see, no one who I needed to see. I did try to ring Dean but I assumed he was still sleeping when he didn't answer. I decided to take a slow walk from my parent's home to the town centre, it was a good half an hour walk but it wasn't like I had anything else to do. 

Passing by all the streets and homes I realised that this no longer felt like home. I had grown up here but it wasn't the place I wanted to be. Everything I seemed to love about this place had disappeared from my memories, the once warm inviting streets now seemed cold and empty. The innocence I once knew had gone. 

As I walked along I passed by a house of my old best friend from school, I looked over at the house but I guessed she would no longer live there since it was her mother's home. I turned back to look where I was walking, my feet dragging me along before I finally made it to the town. 

When I was young this place used to be buzzing, the streets were full of markets, full of shoppers and life, now it seemed like there was barely any trade. I went into a few shops that reminded me of my childhood but they had changed so much it seemed almost crazy to think I was in the same place. 

The main market square was pretty much dead too, although there was more life in this part than the previous part of town. I walked over to a bench and sat down, I just wanted to watch, to see all the changes. Well, that was before someone stood in my life of view and looked down on me, "If it isn't Natasha Bennett?!"

I looked up at the person in front of me and pursed my lips together as I tried to work out who this woman was. Her red curls seemed familar, her face was soft and natural, her freacles covering her face. Finally, the name popped into my head and I smiled, "Samantha Goodman," I laughed as she shook my hand. 

"In the flesh," she giggled before she sat next to me. "But I must warn you it's Samantha Jenkins now."

"Oh," I said before realising she must have gotten married, "Oh, you married Marc Jenkins? After all that crushing on him?"

She nodded, "You remember after all this time?" She rolled her ocean blue eyes, "I would have thought everyone would have forgotten about that by now." I watched as she looked me up and down, "I must say you are looking alot better these days."

I wasn't too sure how to respond to that comment, I shrugged my shoulders before speaking, "We all have to grow up at some point."

Samantha smiled at me as she looked at me, "I heard about you and James, heard you two got a divorce?"

Was she digging for information from me? "Oh right, what else did you hear?"

She held her hands up defensively, "I was just making conversation. You know how difficult it can be here with all the gossip, it probably doesn't help that James and Marc are like best friends now."

I sighed, "It's none of my business what James does with his life anymore."

"He really did love you Tasha, he was devastated when you ran off with another man."