“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.”

offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll

Grace chortled happily, elated that the

the call ended, Charles put his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it

out gifts for your parents.”

they finally picked out an elegant cloak

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

Charles and Sonia pulled

years, though she noted that the house looked the same as it had before.

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

greeted

drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom.

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

the

Grace insisted. “Your face is

now I appear a little more slender than usual,”

took her by the hand and led her

villa, Sonia noted that there was no one else at home but them,

you tell me how you’ve been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace

had had with the Fullers, though she kept it

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

agreed as he bit into an

felt never went away. That being said, he was less angry with her than

and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she said, “I didn’t want to make you

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

am I going to do with you?” Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s

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

gesture and smoothed

curiously. “Mom, what do you have on

panic. She rose to

salvage the chowder simmering in

“Here you go, Sonia. Have some juice while you watch a bit of television; I’ll be in the kitchen whipping up a couple more dishes,

Lane.” Sonia nodded

a look. “Come and help me out in

had just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you serious, Mom?

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