“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.”

Sonia interjected, “Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Lane. We’ll go over to your place in a bit!”

“Oh, please, no need for the formalities. See you soon!” Grace chortled happily, elated that the younger girl had agreed to drop by for a meal.

When the call 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 miss.”

“It’s fine; there’s always next time, anyway. Now, we should probably go and pick out gifts for your parents.” With that, she linked arms with him and led him toward the car.

After they made their rounds through the boutiques in the mall, they finally picked out an elegant cloak for Grace and a tasteful necktie for Curtis. Then, they made their way to the Lane Residence.

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 was concerned, Grace was like a second mother to her,

long before Charles and Sonia pulled up in

same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out

house to greet her guest when she heard the sound of the car pulling up. Her eyes lit up at the sight of

Sonia greeted with a

both women embraced, Charles stood by the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom. I’m just

of it. My attention is on Sonia now. Come here, Sonia, let me take

amused by the remark. “No,

insisted. “Your face

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

Grace took her by the hand

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

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 had with the Fullers, though she kept it brief to save

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 have stood up for you and gotten them

bit into an apple. “That’s

and the rage he felt never went away. That being said, he was less

Charles and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears

her marriage to Toby, but they couldn’t come to her defense all the time.

gently prodded the younger girl’s forehead

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

gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair

the air curiously. “Mom, what

panic. She rose to her feet in

kitchen to salvage the chowder simmering in the pot, and thankfully, she made

was 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 up a couple more

nodded with

a look. “Come and help me out in

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

you coming or not?” Grace’s face was dark as

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