Chapter 103
“It’s not you I’m looking for; I want to speak to Sonia. Is she there with you?” Grace asked on the other line, prompting Charles to glance over at Sonia.
“She’s here,” he answered.
“Pass the phone to her.”
Having made a noise of agreement, Charles handed Sonia his phone while saying, “Here, it’s my mom.”
Sonia took the phone over and greeted pleasantly, “Mrs. Lane.”
“Sonia! I’ve missed you so much.” Grace beamed as soon as she heard Sonia’s voice on the other end of the call.
Sonia, on the other hand, smiled as well. “I’ve missed you, too, Mrs. Lane.”
“You could always drop by to see me, you know.” Grace pointed out, feigning dejection.
“Sorry, Mrs. Lane. I’ve been tied up with tons of stuff recently. I barely have time to breathe,” Sonia winced and said apologetically.
few of my best recipes for you,” Grace cajoled kindly.
Sonia was just about to say something when Charles-who had been eavesdropping
-spoke up instead. “Mom, I’m bringing my darling for seafood.”
Grace, however, was insistent as she countered, “You know how restaurants never run a quality check on their seafood supplies, and it’s not as if they could do better than me when it comes to cooking.”
Sonia interjected, “Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go over to your place in a bit!”
“Oh, please, no need for the formalities. See you soon!” Grace chortled happily, elated that the younger girl had agreed to drop by for a meal.
When the call ended, Charles put his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it looks like we’re going to have to give the seafood restaurant a miss.”
“It’s fine; there’s always next time, anyway. Now, we should probably go and pick out gifts for your parents.” With that, she linked arms with him and led him toward the car.
After they made their rounds through the boutiques in the mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak for Grace and a tasteful necktie for Curtis. Then, they made their way to the Lane Residence.
always had close ties with the Reeds, and their relationship was more family than anything else. In particular, Grace had been best friends with Sonia’s mother.
and Sonia pulled up
the first time Sonia had dropped by in six years, though she noted that the house looked the same as it had before. As such, she
heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Sonia, and
Lane,” Sonia greeted
by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t
getting tired of it. My attention is on Sonia now. Come
the remark. “No, I haven’t,
have,” Grace insisted. “Your face is
all my baby fat, so
“Alright, that’s enough fretting, Mrs. Lane. Shall we head into the
her by the hand
one else at home but them, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Is
the past six years.” Ever since Grace
detail the life she had had with the Fullers, though she kept it
frustration and snapped, “I knew those Fullers were rotten! You should have told us how badly they were treating you, Sonia. If you had
bit into an apple.
kept mum about her abusive marriage wounded him, and the rage he felt never went
outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes
get them to stand up for her throughout her marriage to Toby, but they couldn’t come to her defense all the time. Besides, they weren’t actually related to her, which meant her troubles would only grow to become an unnecessary burden for them. She would rather give them a
Grace gently prodded the younger
that Grace was frustrated, but she smiled good-naturedly as she
softened at this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair
he sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what do you have on the stove? I think it’s
thoughts, and her eyes lit up with panic. She rose to her feet in a flurry and
in
some juice while you watch a bit of television; I’ll be in the kitchen whipping up
nodded with
a look. “Come and help me
just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you serious, Mom? What could I
Grace’s face was dark as she demanded
not dare reject her. Resigned,
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