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.
their relationship was more family than anything else. In particular, Grace had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like a second mother to her, having taken care of her ever since
Charles and Sonia pulled up in front of the Lane
house looked the same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out of place at all
when she heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit
Sonia greeted with
by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom. I’m just your
she said pointedly, “I see you every day, and believe me when I say I’m getting tired of it. My attention is on Sonia now. Come here,
was somewhat amused by the remark. “No,
have,” Grace insisted. “Your face is all cheekbones
so now I appear
enough fretting, Mrs. Lane. Shall we
Grace took her by the hand
home but them, and she
golfing with his buddies. No matter. Sonia, why don’t you tell me how you‘ve been for the past six years.”
life she had had with the Fullers, though
and snapped, “I knew those Fullers were rotten! You should have told us how badly they were treating you,
agreed as he bit into an
marriage wounded him, and the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was less angry
Tears pricked her eyes as
for her throughout her marriage to Toby, but they couldn’t come to her defense
am I going to do with you?” Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s
knew that Grace was frustrated, but she smiled good-naturedly as she
and smoothed Sonia’s hair with
“Mom, what do you have on the
with panic. She rose to
chowder simmering in the pot, and thankfully, she made it
over to Sonia and said, “Here you go, Sonia. Have some juice while you watch a bit of television; I’ll be in the kitchen whipping up a couple more dishes,
Sonia nodded with a
a look. “Come and help me out in
heard as he pointed
not?” Grace’s face
her. Resigned, he stood up and mumbled
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