“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.”

Mrs. Lane. We’ll go over to your place in a

chortled happily, elated that the younger girl had

call ended, Charles put his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look.

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

their rounds through the boutiques in the mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak

Lanes had 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

Sonia pulled up in front of

first time Sonia had dropped by in six years, though she noted that the house looked the same as it had before. As such,

the car pulling up. Her eyes lit

Lane,” Sonia greeted

stood by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom. I’m just your biological

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 around, then concluded plaintively,

was somewhat amused by the

“Your face is all cheekbones

I appear a little more slender than usual,” Sonia placated. “Alright, that’s enough fretting, Mrs. Lane.

course. Come along, then.” Grace took her by the hand and led her into the

there was no one else at home

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

to detail the life she had had with the Fullers, though she

story. She slapped the edge of the coffee table in a physical show of frustration and snapped, “I knew those Fullers

into an apple. “That’s

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

outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she

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

Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s

Grace was frustrated, but she smiled good-naturedly

and smoothed Sonia’s hair

air curiously. “Mom, what do you have on

of her thoughts, and her eyes lit up with panic. She rose to her feet in a flurry

salvage the chowder simmering in the pot,

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

nodded with

“Come and help me

hardly believe what he had just heard as he pointed at his

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