“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.”

“Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go

need for the formalities. See you soon!” Grace chortled happily, elated that the younger girl had

ended, Charles put his phone away and gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it looks like we’re going to have to give the seafood restaurant a

always next time, anyway. Now, we should probably go and pick out gifts for your parents.” With that, she linked arms

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

had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia

and Sonia pulled up in front

same as it had before. As such, she

the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Sonia, and she

Lane,” Sonia greeted with a

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

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 slowly

somewhat amused by the remark. “No,

Grace insisted. “Your face is all cheekbones

little more slender

then.” Grace took her by the hand and led her into the family

there was no one else at home but them, and she couldn’t help but

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

a nod and began to detail the life she had had with the Fullers, though she kept

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

an apple. “That’s

had kept mum about her abusive marriage wounded him, and the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was less angry with her than he

the sight of Charles and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes

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

Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s

good-naturedly as she wrapped the latter’s

gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair

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

her thoughts, and her eyes lit up with panic. She rose to her feet in a flurry and exclaimed, “Oh, no!

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

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 kitchen whipping up a couple more dishes, and we can dig

Mrs. Lane.” Sonia nodded with a

“Come and help me

you out?” Charles blinked. He could hardly believe what he had just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you

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