“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.

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, having taken care of her ever since her mother’s

Sonia pulled up in front of

in six years, though she noted that the house looked the same as it had before. As such, she did not feel out of place at

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

Sonia greeted with

the side and drawled sarcastically, “Don’t mind me, Mom.

My attention is on Sonia now. Come here, Sonia, let me take a good look at you!” She clasped Sonia’s

somewhat amused by the remark.

“Your face is

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

Grace took her by the hand and led her into the

home but them, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Is Mr. Lane

the past six years.” Ever

with a nod and began to detail the life she had

was still furious when she heard the last 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! You should have told us how badly they were treating

agreed as he bit into an apple.

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 was pitiful

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 over

Toby, but they couldn’t come to her defense all the time. Besides, they weren’t actually related to her, which meant her troubles

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

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

softened at this gesture and smoothed Sonia’s hair with motherly

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

her eyes lit up with panic.

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

go, Sonia. Have some juice while you watch a bit of television; I’ll be in the kitchen whipping up

Sonia nodded with a warm

Charles a look. “Come and help me out

could hardly believe what he had just heard as he pointed at his nose. “Are you

not?” Grace’s face was dark as

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