“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

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

and gave Sonia a resigned look. “Well, it looks like we’re going to have to

should probably go and pick out gifts

elegant cloak for Grace and a tasteful necktie for Curtis. Then, they made their

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 of her ever since her

Sonia pulled up in

the house looked the same as

Grace practically ran out of the house to greet her guest when she heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at

Sonia greeted with a bright

and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom. I’m

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 spun her around, then concluded plaintively, “You’ve

by the remark. “No,

“Your face

baby fat, so now I appear a little more slender than usual,” Sonia placated.

took her by the hand and led her into the

was no one else at home but them, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Is Mr. Lane

six years.” Ever since Grace watched the press conference, she had been

had had with the Fullers, though she kept it brief

a physical show of frustration and snapped, “I knew those Fullers were

agreed as he bit into an apple. “That’s what I

about her abusive marriage wounded him, and the rage he felt never

her. Tears pricked

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.

do with you?” Grace gently prodded the younger girl’s forehead and

was frustrated, but she smiled good-naturedly as

gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair with

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

up with panic. She rose to

the chowder simmering in the pot, and thankfully, she made it in time to keep the chowder from

saved, 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 kitchen whipping

Sonia nodded with a warm

look. “Come and help me out in

as he pointed at his nose. “Are

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