“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

Grace chortled happily, elated that the younger girl had

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

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

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

best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like a second mother to her, having taken care of her ever since her mother’s

Sonia pulled up in front of

years, though she noted that the house looked the same as it had before.

pulling

Lane,” Sonia greeted

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

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

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

Grace insisted. “Your

baby fat, so now I appear a little more slender than usual,” Sonia placated. “Alright, that’s enough fretting,

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

that there was no one else at home

been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace watched the press conference,

detail the life she had had with the Fullers, though she kept it brief

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 rotten! You should have told us how badly they were treating you, Sonia. If you had told us, then we would

an apple. “That’s what

wounded him, and the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was less angry with her

sight of Charles and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she said, “I didn’t

she had lost both her 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

Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s

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

at this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair

frowned as he sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what do you

and her eyes lit up with panic. She

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

she brought two tall glasses of juice over to Sonia and said, “Here you go, Sonia. Have some juice while you watch a bit of television; I’ll be in the

nodded with a warm

a look. “Come and help me out in

had just heard as he pointed at

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