“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

you soon!” Grace chortled happily, elated that the younger girl had

Sonia a resigned look. “Well,

fine; there’s always next time, anyway. Now, we should probably go and pick out gifts for your parents.” With

mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak for Grace and a tasteful necktie for Curtis. Then, they

family than anything else. In particular, Grace had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was

before Charles and Sonia pulled up in front of the

time Sonia 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 of place at all

her guest when she heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Sonia, and she approached

greeted with a bright

and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind

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

somewhat amused by the remark. “No, I

Grace insisted. “Your face

little more slender than usual,” Sonia placated.

Grace took her by

that there was no one else at home but them, and she couldn’t help but

Sonia, why don’t you tell me how you’ve been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace watched the press conference, she

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

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 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 you and gotten them to back

agreed as he bit into an apple. “That’s what

rage he felt never went

course through her. Tears pricked 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

you?” Grace gently prodded the

frustrated, but she smiled good-naturedly as she wrapped the latter’s

gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair

as he sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what do you have on the stove? I think

her thoughts, and her eyes lit up with panic. She rose to her feet in a flurry and exclaimed, “Oh, no! My seafood

she rushed toward the kitchen to salvage the chowder simmering in the pot, and thankfully, she made it in time to keep

go, Sonia. Have some juice while you watch a

Lane.” Sonia nodded

a look. “Come and help me out in the

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

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