“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.”

Lane. We’ll go over to your place in a

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

Charles put his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it looks like

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

cloak for Grace and a

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,

long before Charles and Sonia pulled

house looked the same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out of place

to greet her guest when she heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit

greeted

sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom. I’m just your biological

when I say I’m getting tired of it. My attention is on Sonia now. Come here,

was somewhat amused by the remark.

insisted. “Your face is all cheekbones

I’ve lost all my baby fat, so now I appear a little more slender than usual,”

then.” Grace took her by the hand and led her into the

home but them, and she couldn’t

tell me how you’ve been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace watched the press conference, she had been wanting to know all that had

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

last of the story. She slapped the edge of the coffee table in a physical show of frustration and snapped, “I knew those Fullers were

as he bit into an apple. “That’s

had kept mum about her abusive marriage wounded him, and the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was

of Charles and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes

but they couldn’t come to her defense all the time. Besides, they weren’t actually related to her, which meant her troubles would

do with you?” Grace gently prodded

but she smiled good-naturedly as she wrapped

gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair with

Charles frowned as he sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what do you have

with panic. She rose to her feet in a flurry and exclaimed, “Oh, no! My

the chowder simmering in the

brought two tall glasses of juice 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

Lane.” Sonia nodded with a warm

Charles a look. “Come and

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

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