“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.”
interjected, “Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go over to your place in
See you soon!” Grace chortled happily,
a resigned look. “Well, it looks like we’re going to have to give the
Now, we should probably go and pick out gifts for your parents.” With that,
out an elegant cloak
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
same as it had before. As such, she did not feel
greet her guest when she heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Sonia,
Lane,” Sonia greeted
by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom. I’m just your
day, and believe me when I say I’m getting tired of it. My attention is on Sonia now.
somewhat amused by the remark. “No, I haven’t, Mrs.
Grace insisted. “Your
baby fat, so now I appear a little more slender than
Grace took her by the hand and led her into the family
at home but
for the past six years.” Ever
nod and began to detail the life she had had with the Fullers, though she kept it brief to save
knew those Fullers were rotten! You should have told us how badly they were treating you, Sonia. If you had told us, then we would have stood
agreed as he bit into an apple. “That’s what
kept mum about her abusive marriage wounded him, and the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was less angry with
felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she said, “I didn’t want
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 become an unnecessary burden for them. She would rather give them a peace of mind than have
am I going to do with you?” Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s forehead and heaved
but she smiled good-naturedly
gesture and smoothed Sonia’s
air curiously. “Mom, what do
her eyes lit up with panic. She rose to her
in the
said, “Here you go, Sonia. Have some juice while you watch a
Lane.” Sonia nodded with a warm
Charles a look. “Come and help me out in the
had just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you serious, Mom? What could I possibly
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