Free Twisted Innocence (Moonlighters Series Book 3) by Terri Blackstock

out of wedlock? Are they holding their noses? Or am I their next project?”
    Juliet set her hand on her hip. “I know you don’t realize this, but you’re the one judging here. They want to bring you gifts and celebrate Lily’s life. You need things. I just wish I had been in a position to give you the shower before she was born, but I wasn’t.”
    Holly mentally kicked herself for giving Juliet a hard time. “I’m sorry. I’m just nervous. Your friends are probably super-Christians, and I’m so . . . not .”
    Juliet leaned on the edge of her counter. “Honey, we didn’t all start out at the same place. We had totally different journeys. Stop looking at yourself as inferior. God doesn’t do that.”
    Holly knew Juliet meant well, but it didn’t change how she saw herself. “We were raised the same way, in the same family.”
    “Oh, Holly. No, we weren’t.” Juliet lifted Holly’s chin. “Look at me.”
    Holly met Juliet’s moist eyes. “What?”
    “I was raised by two parents who loved the Lord and taught me to. You were raised by a single mom after your preacher dad betrayed the family.”
    “He was your preacher dad too.”
    “But I was cooked by then, honey. I’d had a stable, solid upbringing. By the time Dad left us, I already knew Jesus and my faith was deep. It was in God more than in Dad. But you were just a little girl. Things were totally different on your journey.”
    Holly tried to hold back her tears. “So you’re completely letting me off the hook for my detours?”
    “That’s not my job. I’m just saying that God knows where you started and how you got here. He’s not disgusted, andneither are my friends. And when they get to know you, they’ll delight in you like God does.”
    The tears came despite Holly’s efforts. As she dabbed at them, she turned and saw Cathy listening from a few feet away, a poignant smile on her face.
    “I really want this to be fun for you,” Juliet added. “And don’t tell anybody, but I also want to show Lily off to all our friends. I want them to see how adorable she is.”
    Now, Holly tried to focus on the assurances Juliet had given her as the guests began to arrive. Would any of her own friends actually make the effort to come? Most of them hated mornings, and they would consider a shower to be on their Top 10 List of Most Awkward Situations.
    As Juliet’s church friends arrived, that insecurity crept back in. Holly wished she’d worn a sweater to cover the tattoos on her biceps. It surprised her that Juliet hadn’t made her do that already. Maybe she’d warned them. Holly looks like a biker chick, but try to look past that.
    There she went again, judging them for things she expected them to think. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe they were all sweet, like Juliet.
    Despite her tension, she found herself relaxing as they gushed over Lily.
    “She locks in on you when you talk to her, like she understands every word.”
    “I can see the resemblance, Holly.”
    “Right? Look at those eyes. She’s gorgeous.”
    Holly couldn’t help smiling. “Yeah, I kind of think she looks like me too. Poor kid.”
    “Poor kid?” one of the women said. “Are you crazy? Look at you!”
    This wasn’t so bad, Holly thought as more of the women came in. A few of them asked about her mugging and commented on her bruise and busted lip, but she didn’t feel judged. She grew less uncomfortable with the inevitable hugs. She wondered if Juliet had lectured them about how to treat her. Don’t say anything about her having the baby alone, and for heaven’s sake don’t mention her driving a taxi.
    Juliet wasn’t above scheming with her friends to get Holly back to church, but they seemed sincere.
    Just as Juliet was asking them all to sit, the doorbell rang again, and three of Holly’s friends from the Dock came in. Thrilled to see familiar faces, she ran across the room and hugged each of them. “I didn’t for a minute think you’d come!” she whispered.