“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.”
the offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go over to your place in
you soon!” Grace chortled happily, elated
the call ended, Charles put his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it looks like we’re going
probably go and pick out gifts for your
boutiques in the mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak for
had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like a second mother to
Charles and Sonia pulled
had dropped by in six years, though she noted that the house looked the same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out
sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight
Lane,” Sonia greeted with a
Charles stood by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t
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
the remark. “No, I haven’t,
insisted. “Your face is all cheekbones
slender than usual,” Sonia placated. “Alright, that’s enough fretting, Mrs. Lane. Shall we head into the
Grace took her by the
the villa, Sonia noted that there was no one else at home but them, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Is Mr.
the past six years.” Ever
and began to detail the life she had had with the Fullers, though she kept it
edge of the coffee table 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 would have stood
an apple. “That’s
abusive marriage wounded him, and the rage he felt never went away.
of Charles and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she said, “I
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
I going to do with you?” Grace gently prodded
frustrated, but she smiled good-naturedly as
softened at this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s
sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what do you have on the stove? I think it’s
with panic. She
chowder simmering in the pot, and thankfully, she made it in time
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
nodded
look. “Come and help me out in
had just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you serious,
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