Homecoming

Chapter 4

The rumors only got worse as days passed by. After hearing the rumors and doing well to keep the working atmosphere calm, I chose to go to church for the first time since being home. I had put it off for so long, but Ma had been calling telling me to come and talk to Pastor Matthew. He had been my youth counselor and done well in our community, but I hadn't been to church in so long that the moment I stepped through the door, I felt out of place. Many people stared as we made our way to our seats and many people whispered, though I cared too little to tune into it.

As we sat through the sermon, I couldn't help but feel that no one was really hearing the Pastor's words. He droned on-and-on and people nodded, but every now and again I would catch 1, 2, and even 3 people staring at a time. They narrowed their eyes when I noticed and turned away, but a few didn't. They stared right into my eyes until I averted my gaze with red cheeks. It was like I had crashed their tiny community with my sinful ways and tainted the ways of their lives. When the Pastor dismissed us, I headed outside to the car quickly, telling Ma I felt sick and needed some air. It was only a half-lie. As I got outside, I noticed Jason's mother approaching me in a hurry. Her red hair was pinned back into a burn, adorned with pearl clips and even in her Sunday best she looked terrifying.

"How dare you." She hissed as she got closer. Ma stepped forward and put a hand up, blocking her way.

"Now, Mary-Beth, calm down." Ma said in a panic.

Mary-Beth eyed me with hatred, "You are a Jezebel. You don't deserve my son. After everything he did for you. After everything he's done, you just up and leave. Run home? Don't even bother to tell him a thing." Her voice got higher, and people began to stop and stare.

Ma paused and swallowed hard, turning and eyeing me, "You didn't tell him?"

"What happened is none of anyone's business!" I shouted, nearing the edge of my patience.

Rachel stepped in and put her hand on my shoulder, "Is what she is saying true?"

I pushed her hand off me and grimaced, "Yes. I left Jason without a word. I packed up my clothes and left after he went to work. Y'all have no idea what happened."

Mary-Beth snorted in disbelief, "I know he said you cheated. How do I know that little brat you are carrying is even his? I better not catch your face 'round here."

Later, Ma agreed Rachel about me not going back to church. I stood there in front of her at Rachel's as she took long, deep breaths to calm herself down. She hadn't said a word on the way home and I was left feeling like something wasn't being said. Rachel's eyes were on the floor and Pa was the only one looking directly at me. His eyes were soft and sympathetic.

"I don't want rumors to affect my family." Ma said after her final long breath.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise, "Do you think these rumors affect you more?"

That was the last time Ma was over at Rachel's house. I shook my head and looked up from a pile of paperwork. She was always more concerned with how things would affect her and the family. So far, that was everyone's concern in the family, besides Pa. Ma had stopped talking to me, but Pa would call me when Ma was out to talk about my day. He didn't ask any questions which was nice. He just wanted to make sure everything was okay. Still, the drama of the family backing out on me more than distracted me at work. I realized finally I had been holding the same file in my hands for 35 minutes.

"Julia, have you finished the final paperwork for the Dolson's case?" Rachel asked as she turned a corner, iPad in her hands as she looked over paperwork.

I sighed as I read 'Dolson' across the file in my hands, "I just got to it actually."

"I shouldn't have to ask you for these files. You need to daydream at home." She said firmly before snatching the file from my hand and walking away.

Without another word she was gone and I tapped my fingernails on the desk with heated anger. I was getting sick of dealing with everything and my limit was nearly reached with how much more clear rudeness I could take. I had taken abuse for years and when I left it was supposed to be a fresh start. It was almost as if I had never left. I shook my head and cleared the thought from my brain. Throwing myself into the dreadful rumors was destroying my mental health a bit, but I still remembered how Jason would sing along to music in the car or touch my stomach and wonder if I should have left. If leaving the good times behind was good.

As I promptly shifted papers on the desk to reorganize, I noticed two police officers pull in. Officer Jenson and Giles exited their vehicles and as they entered, I smiled politely.

"Gentlemen." I greeted with a light tone, standing as I waved.

"Julia." Jenson nodded. Giles chewed a toothpick in his mouth with a scowl.

Jenson and I had gone to high school together and I remember how we sat together at lunch, laughing over other team losses and cheerleaders he wanted to woo. Those we simpler times, but I was happy to see he never lose sight of his career goal. Originally it was to be the town Sheriff, but he settled for a lesser position since Giles still hadn't retired. Giles stood behind him with a hand on his hip, looking as exhausted as he always did. He only ever left his office for more serious cases and in a town like this, that was not as often as one might think.

"Can I help you guys?" I asked curiously. There should not be a reason they were here.

Giles cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow at me amusingly, "Jason has reached out to the station for help locating your whereabouts."

I stared at both in disbelief and scoffed openly, "Seriously?"

Jenson nodded with concern buried behind his eyes, "Yes. We are just swingin' by to make sure you're alright. I mean personally, I have known y'all since school and am just concerned."

Giles gave him a side look and rolled his eyes, "Since we have located you, I wanted to follow up on a tip we were given as well as make sure you were still in town." Giles was old and never liked us as kids. We were more than rowdy back in the day.

"I am too far along in my pregnancy to travel elsewhere so I am always here working." I said dryly. I didn't like where this was going.

Giles stepped forward and put a hand up, "Can you step away from your desk, Julia?"

I did as he asked and watched as they began to search my desk with purpose behind their eyes. Whatever was reported to them was obviously said to be in my work desk. They ignored my purse and the boxes of files behind the desk, more worried as they shifted through papers and knick knacks I brought from home to satisfy my overbearing boredom while at work. With a loud huff of triumph, Giles stepped away from the desk holding a small baggy in his hand. I stared in disbelief as he held it up, people staring at it in awe around us. I hadn't even noticed other employees had gathered.

"I thought so." Giles said loudly, eyeing me aggressively.

Rachel turned the corner and looked between the big group.

"What is this about?" She demanded, stepping up next to me.

I looked at her frantically, "They said Jason called and that someone tipped them off about something. They started digging in the desk and found drugs."

"Drugs?" She said with amusement, eyes flickering from my stomach to them.

Jenson sighed in defeat, "Giles found it in the right side of her desk. Someone called and tipped us off that Julia has been doing drugs at work. We only followed up on that tip."

"She is pregnant." Rachel said with a firm tone, eyes challenging Giles.

Giles chuckled, "Yeah, that isn't all she is, Gal."

Jenson looked at Giles with shock and I blinked as the anger built in my chest. Someone had obviously planted the drugs, but Giles was more than happy to take it seriously as he took the handcuffs off his wrists. He read me my rights, but everything buzzed as Rachel and the other employees stared at me in astonishment. Some of the eyes pitied, but many looked in disgust. With this altercation, my reputation would be destroyed. I wasn't only a Jezebel, but now I was a junkie. A junkie who smoked their drugs at work while pregnant. My spirit crushed as they put me in the back of the police car.