“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 over to your place

for the formalities. See you soon!” Grace chortled happily, elated

look. “Well,

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

an elegant cloak for Grace and a tasteful necktie for

had close ties with the Reeds, and their relationship was more family than anything else. In particular, Grace had been best friends with Sonia’s mother. As far as Sonia

Sonia pulled up in front of the

looked the same as it had before. As such,

the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at

greeted with

embraced, Charles stood by the side and drawled sarcastically,

attention is on Sonia now. Come here, Sonia, let me take a good look

by the

Grace insisted. “Your face is all

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

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

Sonia noted that there was no one else at home but them, and she

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

Sonia answered easily with a nod and began to detail the life she had had

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!

as he bit into an apple. “That’s what I told her,

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 was pitiful of

her. Tears pricked her eyes as she said, “I didn’t

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

you?” Grace gently prodded the

good-naturedly as she wrapped the latter’s arm

gesture and smoothed

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

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

a second longer, she rushed toward the kitchen to salvage the chowder simmering in the pot,

to Sonia and said, “Here you go, Sonia. Have some juice while you watch a bit of television; I’ll be in

Sonia nodded with a warm

shot Charles a look. “Come and help me out in the

had just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you serious, Mom?

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