[He listens to her story, and smiles a little. That's... not so bad, considering.]
I doubt everyone in town knew. Maybe the people in your area, but I doubt rumors would have gotten incredibly far, unless you're from a small town. As for your mother's job... it's one with a lot of history behind it, as far as I've been told.
[At least that's what one woman told him after she slapped him for a comment he made. 8( ]