“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

no need for the formalities. See you soon!” Grace chortled happily, elated that the younger girl had agreed to

a resigned look. “Well,

and pick out gifts for your parents.” With

their rounds through the boutiques in the mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak for Grace and a tasteful necktie for

than anything else. In particular, Grace had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like a

and Sonia pulled up

looked the same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out of place at all and rather felt a warm sense of

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 Sonia, and she approached the

Sonia greeted with a

embraced, Charles stood by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom. I’m

I say I’m getting tired of it. My attention is on Sonia now. Come here, Sonia, let me take

by the remark. “No, I

Grace insisted. “Your

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

Grace took her by the hand and led her

there was no one else at home but

matter. Sonia, why don’t you tell me how you’ve been for the past six years.”

to detail the life she had had with the Fullers,

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

bit into an apple. “That’s what I

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

felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she said, “I didn’t want 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

I going to do with you?” Grace gently

but she smiled good-naturedly as she wrapped the latter’s

at this gesture and

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

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

the chowder simmering in the pot,

some juice while you watch a bit of television; I’ll be in the kitchen whipping up

nodded with a

look. “Come and help me out in

could hardly believe what he had just heard as he

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