“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.

“Well, you could come over for a meal right now if you have the time. I’ll bust out a 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.”

for the offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go over to your place in

formalities. See you soon!” Grace chortled happily, elated that the younger girl had agreed to drop by for

his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it looks like we’re going to have to

we should probably go and pick out gifts for your parents.” With that,

in the mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak for Grace and a tasteful necktie

Grace had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like a

Sonia pulled up

Sonia had dropped by in six years, though she noted that the house looked the same as

Grace practically ran out of the house to greet her guest when she heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Sonia, and she approached the latter with her

greeted

embraced, Charles stood by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom. I’m just your biological son, is

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, Sonia, let me take a good look at you!” She clasped Sonia’s hands in hers and slowly spun her around, then concluded plaintively, “You’ve lost

amused by the remark. “No, I haven’t, Mrs.

insisted. “Your face is all cheekbones

a little more slender

Come along, then.” Grace took her by the hand and led her

that there was no one else at home but

been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace watched

answered easily with a nod and began to detail the life she had had with the Fullers, though she kept it brief to save Grace the

in a physical show of frustration and snapped, “I knew those Fullers were rotten! You should have told us how badly they were treating you, Sonia. If you had told us, then we

into an apple. “That’s what I told her,

the rage he felt never

the sight of Charles and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she said,

she had lost both her parents, and the closest thing she had to a family was Grace and the rest of the Lanes. She might have been able to 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

you?” Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s forehead and heaved a

she smiled good-naturedly

softened at this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair with

as he sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what

with panic. She

kitchen to salvage the chowder simmering in the

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, and we

Mrs. Lane.” Sonia nodded with a

look. “Come and help me out in the

just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you serious, Mom? What

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