“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.”
you for the offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go over
please, no need for the formalities. See you soon!” Grace chortled happily,
put his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it looks like we’re going to have to give the seafood restaurant
out gifts for your
in the mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak
had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like a second mother to her,
Sonia pulled up in
she noted that the house looked the same as it had before. As such,
pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight
Lane,” Sonia greeted with
side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom. I’m just
rolled her eyes as she said pointedly, “I see you every 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
somewhat amused by the remark. “No,
“Your face is
slender
along, then.” Grace took her by the hand and led her into
noted that there was no one else at home but them, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Is Mr.
Sonia, why don’t you tell me how you’ve been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace watched the press conference, she
and began to detail the life she had had with the Fullers, though she kept it brief to save Grace 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
as he bit into an
and the rage he felt never
of Charles 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 worry over
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 become
do with you?” Grace gently prodded the
was frustrated, but she smiled good-naturedly as she wrapped
softened at this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s
as he sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what do you have on the stove? I think it’s
lit up with panic. She
to salvage the chowder simmering in the pot, and thankfully, she made it in time to keep
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, and we can dig
Sonia nodded
and help me
just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you serious, Mom?
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