The walk back to the main house was awkward. That was the best way to describe it. It was different from when she had walked around the town with Winnie. Her presence kept Maya from noticing the townspeople's coldness.
However, as she walked with Arlo, all she got was stares, whispers, and people stepping out of the way to avoid her. Children stopped playing to stare, and more than a few times, someone pointed.
Arlo kept a steady distance between them and she kept her eyes glued to his back, trying her best not to see around her. She was sure everyone here knew exactly who she was and what her family had done. They were showing her exactly how they felt about it.
When they finally arrived at the main house, she could hardly hide her relief and wanted nothing more than to rush in. As memorable as her first trip outside the main house was, Maya was certain she would never do it alone.
