Page 145 of One More Truth
“He’s right,” another woman’s voice calls out.
I turn my head to see who else has witnessed the latest round ofLet’s Stone the Ex-Con, adding fuel to the flames of shame that consume me every day.
The voice belongs to Olivia.Of course.The universe hates me that much. She’s carrying Nova in her arms. I look away, wishing I’d worn sunglasses so Olivia couldn’t see the pain in my eyes.
“Jessica wasn’t guilty of the crime she served time for, and she’s not the person you’ve made her out to be. You never even took the time to get to know her.” Olivia’s tone is that of an elementary school teacher gently reprimanding a student for talking during class.
Speechless, I stare at her, but not because she’s defending me. She didn’t bother to get to know me before she threatened to keep Nova from Troy if I joined him and her daughter for their together time.
Thinking about Troy is a laceration across the heart. I put my hand over it as if that will ease the pain.
Walk away and keep your head up. Don’t let them see how much you hurt.
I hurry toward the street, my gaze on the grass under my feet. The weight of condemning glares from people who heard Meg yell my name presses down on me.
Olivia only defended me because I gave her the one thing she really wanted—other than Colton returning. I gave her Troy as something more than just a best friend. Once he comes home, she can start moving forward with her goal of Nova, Troy, and her being a family.
“Wait!” Olivia’s voice comes after me.
I move faster.Just let me get home before the waterworks start.
“Wait! Jess!”
I stop walking since I don’t need anyone else paying attention to me. Her yelling my name will only make things worse.
I turn to Olivia, my mouth incapable of curving into a smile. I don’t have it in me to even fake one.
“Did you hear the great news?” Her eyes are glowing.
I shake my head, having no idea what she’s talking about.
“About Pushing Limits? Troy managed to pull it off. Mason is joining the band for a reunion performance. Theonlyreunion performance he’s planning to do with them.”
Despite the pain from my lacerated heart, I allow a small smile on my face.He did it!Troy will kick ass after all with what he set out to do with the festival. “That’s great. Thanks for telling me.” I turn to leave, my smile wilting.
“I’m sorry about what happened. With Meg,” Olivia rushes to say.
I nod and walk away, not bothering to hand her false platitudes about it being okay. It isn’t okay. I have feelings. The people who end up in prison for a crime they didn’t commit, the people forced to stay in jail because they don’t have bail money or who are given longer sentences than they deserve because of systemic racism…we all have feelings.
Our pasts might play a hand in shaping the people we become, but they aren’t the only factors.
Fortunately, Olivia gets the hint and doesn’t follow me. I really don’t want to talk to her right now.
Or ever.
Delores is working in her garden as I approach my house. “Hi, do you need a hand?” I ask one of the few people on the street who never turned on me when the truth came out.
She smiles at me, her white hair tied back under her own straw hat, and awkwardly pushes to her feet. I help her up, my arm supporting her.
She takes in my hair, and her smile widens. “It looks great. I almost didn’t recognize you. The color suits you.” Her smile fades. “I saw that article today in the newspaper…” She pauses as if unsure how to finish what she began to say.
“What article?”
“With your brother-in-law. Well, the article wasn’t all about your brother-in-law. It quoted him saying he still believes you were guilty of his brother’s murder.”
“Craig thinks I’m guilty?” Is that the real reason he and Grace don’t want me to see Amelia? They helped me start my life over but never truly believed I was innocent?
Delores’s eyes widen. “Craig? No, it was some man named Lincoln. Did the reporter get it wrong?”
