Yes, I have a similar situation. I moved 625 miles away from where I used to live. There, some folks did know. It made things difficult, because people gossip and you never knew who knew what. (Even something fabricated or with important pieces missing that made things look a lot worse than they were).

I have no idea what knows what now. I had suspected that this lady knew something and that had been why she was fishing for info, but in fact, I think she just cared about me and wanted to know how I was doing in order to know what to pray for, for me.

Thankfully, I know that she will keep a confidence though. She has never gossiped to me or anything. I have known her for years....