“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.

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

before Charles and Sonia pulled

that the house looked the same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out of

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

greeted with a

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

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

the remark. “No, I haven’t, Mrs.

“Your face is all

fat, so now I appear a little more slender than usual,” Sonia placated. “Alright, that’s

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

there was no one else at home

matter. Sonia, why don’t you tell me how you’ve been for the past six

had had with the Fullers, though she kept it brief

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

he bit into an apple. “That’s what I

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

and Grace’s outward concern, Sonia felt warmth course through her. Tears pricked her eyes as she said, “I didn’t want to make you worry

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

to do with you?” Grace gently prodded the

good-naturedly as she wrapped the latter’s arm like

at this gesture and smoothed

sniffed the air curiously. “Mom, what do you have on the

lit up with panic. She rose to her feet in a flurry and exclaimed,

the chowder simmering in

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

Mrs. Lane.” Sonia nodded with a

“Come and help me

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

coming or not?” Grace’s face

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