“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.”
offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go over to your
no need for the formalities. See you soon!” Grace chortled happily, elated that
call ended, Charles put his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it looks like we’re going
and pick out gifts for your parents.”
rounds through the boutiques in the mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak for Grace and
their relationship was more family than anything else. In particular, Grace had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia was concerned, Grace was like a second mother to her, having taken care
before Charles and Sonia pulled up in front of the Lane
the same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out of place
her guest when she heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Sonia, and
Lane,” Sonia greeted with
drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind
every day, and believe me when I say I’m getting tired of it. My attention is on Sonia now.
was somewhat amused by the remark.
insisted. “Your face
slender than usual,” Sonia placated. “Alright, that’s enough fretting, Mrs. Lane. Shall we head
took her by the hand
one else at home but
still golfing with his buddies. No matter. Sonia, why don’t you tell me how you’ve been for the past six years.” Ever since Grace watched the press conference, she had
Sonia answered easily with a nod and began to detail the life she had had with the Fullers, though
the story. She slapped the edge of the coffee table in a physical show of frustration and snapped, “I knew those Fullers
an apple. “That’s what I told her,
rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was
sight of Charles and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she
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
with you?” Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s forehead and heaved a
but she smiled good-naturedly
at this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair with motherly
the air curiously. “Mom, what do you have on
up with panic. She rose to
rushed toward the kitchen to salvage the chowder simmering in
“Here you go, Sonia. Have some juice while you watch a bit of television; I’ll be in the kitchen whipping up a
Lane.” Sonia nodded with a
look. “Come and help me out in the
He could hardly believe what he had just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are
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