Missy, you have a great attitude about the "town folk's" gossip & rumor mongering. It is what it is, and you know the truth.
When ex-H & I were getting divorced the rumors about me in our not-so-small small town were pretty bad. So bad that I used to go to IN to grocery shop in fear I'd see someone. :lol: (We are pretty close to the IL/IN border.) I had a folder of "proof" that it wasn't me, in the event I was ever given the opportunity to tell my side. I never did tell my side to the main group against me...eventually I just didn't care anymore- I was just happy to be out of the marriage. When my DH & I started dating, all of the rumors plus a boat load more started up again. (We were all neighbors, so OF COURSE we'd been f***ing around for years, right?
) While that couldn't be further from the truth, people will think what they want to think. People STILL talk & it's been 9 years. I *really* couldn't care less at this point, I know what the truth is & so does everyone I care about.
I found my "folder of evidence" a couple months ago. It actually is in a folder with my DD's name on it, so when I saw it in my filing cabinet & opened it I was expecting to see her things. It took me a minute to realize it was copies of cell phone bills, hotel, restaurant & credit card receipts. I finally threw it away, because it doesn't matter. I could show it to every one of the people who thought or think differently, but I just don't care what they think, period.
I'm just glad I found it & got rid of it before my DD's saw it some day. They'd see it & they'd know that dad & stepmom were an item for quite awhile. My kids don't need to know that, they love their dad. I've worked too hard to make sure they have a good relationship with him for it to be derailed by my need to prove myself someday.