“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 over to

chortled happily, elated that the younger

gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it looks like we’re going to have to give the seafood restaurant

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

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

friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like

before Charles and Sonia pulled up

the same as

Grace practically ran 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

Lane,” Sonia greeted with a

Charles stood by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind

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

somewhat amused by the remark. “No, I haven’t,

have,” Grace insisted. “Your face

all my baby fat, so now I appear a little more slender

her by

home but them,

still golfing with his buddies. No matter. Sonia, why don’t you tell me how you’ve been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace watched the press

the life she had had with the Fullers, though she

Fullers were rotten! You should have told us how badly they were treating you, Sonia.

as he bit into an apple. “That’s what

that she had kept mum about her abusive marriage wounded him, and the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he

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

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

to do with you?” Grace gently prodded the

knew that Grace was frustrated, but she smiled good-naturedly as she wrapped the latter’s arm like an affectionate

this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s

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

panic. She rose to her feet

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

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

nodded

Charles a look. “Come and help me out in

you out?” Charles blinked. He could hardly believe what he had just heard as

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