“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.”

“Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go

chortled happily, elated that the younger girl had agreed to drop

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

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

made their rounds through the boutiques in the mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak for

ties with the Reeds, and their relationship was more family than anything else. In particular, Grace had been best friends with Sonia’s mother.

long before Charles and Sonia pulled up in front

same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out of place at all and rather felt a

the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Sonia, and

Sonia greeted with

and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t

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,

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

insisted. “Your face

lost all my baby fat, so now I appear a little more slender

took her by the hand and led her into

one else at home but them, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Is Mr. Lane not

how you’ve been for the past six years.” Ever since

detail the life she had had with the Fullers, though she

show of frustration and snapped, “I knew those Fullers were rotten! You should have told us how badly they were treating you, Sonia.

agreed as he bit into an

him, and the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was less angry with her than he was pitiful

sight of Charles and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she said, “I didn’t want to make you worry

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 peace of mind than

am I going to do with you?” Grace gently

smiled good-naturedly as she wrapped the

this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair with motherly

then, Charles frowned as he sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what

snapped out of her thoughts, and her eyes lit up with panic. She rose to her feet in

chowder simmering in the pot, and thankfully, she made it in time to keep the chowder

Sonia. Have some juice while

Sonia nodded with a warm

look. “Come and help me out in the

out?” Charles blinked. He could hardly believe what he had just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you

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