Lights out was quickly approaching, and Allie was ready to talk to her mom. For most of the day, her excitement at going to a camp in the woods had blocked out any other emotion. Now, however, she missed her mother. She stepped outside the cabin, walking a short distance in the direction of cabin 17, and dialed the number her mom had absolutely insisted she memorize - in spite of the existence of cell phone contact lists.

"Hey, Allie!" her mom cheerfully answered.

Allie felt simultaneously comforted and sad. Mom sounded so wonderfully normal, which was very reassuring. But she missed being with her even more.

"How's it going? Do you like the camp so far?" Mom continued.

Allie could hear voices in the background on her mom's end. I just bet she's still at work. "It's great!" she enthused, making herself focus on the fact that she really did love being here. "We've got a campwide competition, and I've decided I'm totally going to kick butt!"

She could practically hear her mom grin. "That's my girl!" Mom said with pride.

Allie grinned herself. "I've met some cool girls, too. I think we're going to be really good friends." She didn't mention that one of them happened to look a lot like her. Once several years before, she'd told Mom that she saw a girl who looked like her. Mom had looked... panicked for some reason. Allie didn't know what was going on there, but she knew there was no sense in worrying her mother over nothing.

"I'm glad to hear it!" Mom answered. She'd told Allie before that she didn't make a lot of friends when she was in school, but thankfully, Allie didn't have that problem. "And I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."

Allie could still hear voices in the background on her mom's side. "Are you still at work?" she asked, slightly accusing in tone. Her mother had a tendency to get wrapped in work, to the point where Allie occasionally had to remind her to stop and eat. She could just see Mom working ridiculous hours while she was out for camp.

"No, actually," Mom countered, sounding as if she were pleased to prove Allie's assumption wrong. "I'm at a restaurant, trying to decide what I want to eat."

"You can never go wrong with steak..." Allie suggested. The recommendation was really more of a joke - at home, she always pressed for steaks.

Her mom laughed. "Probably not the best choice at a Mexican restaurant, kiddo."

Suddenly, there was a bustling noise coming through the cell phone speaker. She could hear her mom whisper, "Just a second," to someone, and then, "Hey, Allie, the waitress just got here for my order. I'll call you back in just a minute."

"No need!" Allie quickly responded. It had done her good to hear her mom's voice, and they really didn't have a lot to catch up on yet. "I'll call you in a couple of days."

"Okay, sweetie," Mom replied, a softer tone in her voice. Allie wasn't sure how she could tell, but she knew her mom was missing her, too. "I love you!"

"Love you, too, Mom." Allie smiled and ended the call. She missed her mother, but it did help to know that she could talk to her whenever she needed.

On the other side of the cabin, Grace had decided to call her dad. It would be a little late for him, but she knew he'd always pick up for her.

"Gracie!" His voice was a bit rough from sleep and a bit worried from... worry. She should have known he'd be concerned when getting a late night phone call from her.

"Hey, Dad!" she chirped, knowing her tone would reassure him. "Sorry to wake you - I just wanted to check in."

"No problem, kiddo," he said warmly. "How's it going?"

"Great!" she answered, smiling. "We've got a camp wide competition I'm going to have fun with, and I'm already making friends."

"Awesome!"

Grace could practically hear him grin. Why did that make me think of Allie...? she wondered.

"Do you have everything you need?" Dad cut into her thoughts with the question he'd been asking for the past 48 hours. This was her first time being away from him for this long, and he'd helped her pack and repack, trying to make sure his little girl had everything she could possibly need - and then some.

"I do, Dad!" Grace half laughed and sighed. "Even if I somehow didn't, there is a general store here at camp. I'm fine!"

"Alright!" Dad sighed a bit himself. "Your old man can't help but worry about you, though."

Grace smiled. "I know." He was sweet that way. She couldn't help but think that she had the best dad in the world. He always looked out for her best interest.

She heard a door shut and quickly glanced back in the direction of the cabin. Allie had just gone back inside, which reminded her...

"Dad?"

"Yeah, sweetie?" She could hear rustling noises as he sat up in his bed.

Grace paused, not quite sure what exactly she wanted to ask but needing some sort of answer. "Have you ever met someone who... I don't know... just seemed like a part of you right away?"

Dad hummed a bit. "Not really. I mean, not right away." His voice softened. "Except for you and Charlie, of course."

Grace regretted bringing up anything that reminded him of Charlie. Her dad would mention him every once in a while on his own and would always answer any questions she had about the brother she had never met, but she knew it must hurt to think about him. Just like it hurts him when he talks about Mom. She felt the familiar ache over losing her mother before she could even remember. However, as per her wont, she forced the emotion down.

"Never mind," she said. "I just think I'm really going to get along here."

Dad's smile was somehow audible. "Good."

There wasn't anything left to say, so Grace wished her father a good night. He did the same, but in approximately thirty seconds, her phone was ringing again.

"Just to verify," her dad asked with a voice that was suddenly crisp and very much awake, "you are at an all girls' camp, right?"

Grace snorted, shaking her head. "Yes, Daaad." Of course he'd start worrying about boys.

"Good," he answered, obviously trying to sound like he hadn't been at all worried about anything. "Night, Gracie. Love you."

She couldn't help but smile. "Good night, Dad. Love you, too." Call ended, she took a last, lingering look into the woods and walked back in the cabin.

Sorry for the delay, folks. Things got unexpectedly busy...