“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

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

call ended, Charles put his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look.

anyway. Now, we should probably go and pick out gifts for your parents.” With that, she linked arms with him and led him

mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak for Grace and a tasteful necktie for Curtis. Then, they made their way to the Lane

close ties with the Reeds, and 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 her

Sonia pulled up in front of the

six years, though she noted that the house looked the same as it had before. As such, she did not

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 arms spread wide

Sonia greeted with

side and drawled sarcastically,

I say I’m getting tired of it. My attention is on Sonia now. Come here, Sonia, let me take a good look at

amused by the remark. “No, I

“Your face is

I appear a little more slender

of course. Come along, then.” Grace took her by the hand

home but them, and she

you’ve been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace watched the press

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

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 up for

an apple. “That’s what I told her,

had kept mum about her abusive marriage wounded him, and the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was less angry with her than he was pitiful of

Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she

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

Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s

was frustrated, but she smiled good-naturedly as she wrapped the

softened at this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair with motherly

air curiously. “Mom,

with panic. She rose to her

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

chowder was saved, she 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

Mrs. Lane.” Sonia nodded with

look. “Come and help me

what he had just heard as he pointed

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