“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

chortled happily, elated that

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

and pick out gifts for your parents.” With that, she linked arms with him and led him

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

always had 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,

Charles and Sonia pulled up in front of the

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

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

Sonia greeted with a bright

and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t

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

was somewhat amused by the

insisted. “Your face

a little more slender than usual,” Sonia placated. “Alright, that’s enough fretting, Mrs. Lane. Shall we head into the

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

one else at home but them,

been for the past six years.” Ever

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

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

bit into an apple. “That’s what

the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was less angry with

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

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

Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s forehead

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

and smoothed Sonia’s hair with motherly

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

lit up with panic. She rose to her feet in a flurry

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

the 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

Lane.” Sonia nodded with

Charles a look. “Come and help

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

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