Aislinn let out a yawn at the breakfast table. Ellie and Ben hadn't left until almost midnight, too engrossed in the weekend plans. School would be difficult to get through today, she thought, as she spooned another mouthful of Weetbix into her mouth.

"What do you think about this dress?" Audrey asked, spinning the magazine to face her.

"I don't know. It seems a bit ... mature for me. But it could work for Olivia," she replied.

Disappointment showed in Audrey's frown as she flipped the page. "What about this one, then?" she persisted.

Aislinn shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe," she said through another mouthful.

Audrey closed the magazine and pushed it aside, and took a long sip of her coffee. "How's school going? You haven't said much about it."

"It's OK, I guess. School's school."

"Have you made anymore friends?"

She shook her head. Honestly, Aislinn was content with her two closest friends. Quality over quantity, and all of that. The only thing to report about it was bullying, and there was no way she would have told her mother about the devilish Tessa and her entourage. She'd just worry, or worse, she might call her school principal. That would just make it worse. Aislinn needed to divert her mother's attention to something else.

"Ben and Ellie want to go camping this weekend and invited me with them."

Audrey fixed her gaze on her daughter, studying her curiously. "Are you sure that's safe after the other night?"

Aislinn rolled her eyes. "It'll be fine, Mum. We're just going to be down at the lake."

She twisted her lips with worry as her stomach knotted. "I don't know Ais..."

Aislinn refused to take no for an answer, so she yielded. "What if we set up our camping gear here, then, near the rose garden, by the dock?" She thought about how she could better convince her. "And if there's even the slightest problem, we can just come inside. Or we can call you or Jake."

Audrey reluctantly agreed, letting out a sigh. She's growing up so fast, and she had promised to let go of the reigns a little now that she's getting older. Audrey noticed Aislinn had negotiated to stay closer to home, aware that she would worry about her safety.

"Fine, so long as you don't go wandering into the woods in the middle of the night. And, if there's any problem at all, then you call right away. Deal?"

Aislinn's face broke into a wide grin as she wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. "Thanks Mum. You're the best."

Audrey couldn't prevent the crooked grin on her face. "There's something else I've been meaning to ask you, Ais."

"Yeah, what's that?"

"You haven't mentioned anything about spirits lately. I was just wondering if that's all stopped now?"

Aislinn side-eyed her mother strangely. It was as if she'd somehow read her mind. "It's so weird that you'd ask that this morning, Mum. I actually had the strangest dream last night. But until now, there's been nothing. Not since we cleansed the mansion with Georgia."

"Really? What did you dream about?"

She looked up at the ceiling, trying to recall the details. "I was in an old building. Maybe an old church or temple. Something like that. Anyway, it was more a feeling than anything - a spooky vibe. I didn't see any ghosts, though."

Raising her brows, Audrey, eager to hear more, encouraged her to continue. "Are you sure it wasn't just a dream? Like something you saw on TV?"

She nodded. "Yeah, pretty sure. I never really remember regular dreams. This was something different. But I'm not sure where it is or what I'm supposed to do yet."

"Hmm, perhaps you should speak with Georgia. Maybe she can shed some light on it."

"Maybe," she replied, flinging her bag over her shoulder. "I might swing by her place after school."

"No problem. I'll see you tonight, sweetheart."

Aislinn scurried over to the sink, throwing her bowl under the faucet before rushing out the door. Audrey sighed heavily. Her mind rushing between her daughter, finishing the first floor, and the wedding plans. The last spiked a surge of anxiety. Contacting her parents had been on her mind constantly for the past few days, mentally drawing up the list of pros and cons.

A pang of regret burned as she thought about the last time she'd spoken to either her mother or father, and the ultimatum that caused the divide. Nausea churned as she recalled her ex-husband's words, "It's me, or them." The decision had been an easy one, since that little plastic stick showed two lines - she was pregnant with Aislinn. It had been the right thing to do, she thought. Who would intentionally prevent a child from having both a mother and a father? Audrey had been heartbroken, saying her last farewell, but there was no other choice. At least that's what he'd led her to believe. Now that she was older and wiser, she could see the forest and the trees, but seventeen years ago, she had been blinded.

She shook her head as she pushed the memories back. There's no point dwelling on what was. She couldn't change any of that now. But she could do something about the present, and the future that seemed so bright. Now that her demon was at rest.

With a long sip, Audrey finished her coffee, and placed it on the counter with a determined thud, before pushing open the laptop. She opened the browser, searching for her parents by name and town, then hit enter. A long list of names and numbers displayed from varying states. She scrutinised them carefully until she happened across the right one.

There it was in black and white - their initials along with their surname and their old address. Audrey felt both relieved at the ease of her search, but also nervous. With their phone number readily available, she had no excuses left. She sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes, holding it for the count of ten, then exhaled. It's now or never.

It was like jumping off a tall cliff into the ocean. She dialled the numbers, holding the phone close. It rang once, then twice, and then on the third ring, it went to voicemail. As she listened intently, her mother spoke for both her and Audrey's father. She sounded almost the same but held a slight vibration. Perhaps something that had come with age, Audrey thought. The familiar beep sounded, prompting her to leave a message.

"Um, hi Mum. It's me, Audrey," the message began, as she bumbled her words out. She wracked her brain for what to say. "Anyway, I moved - Aislinn, and I moved - I'm getting married in a few months." She paused again to take a breath, but her voice betrayed her as it wavered. "We'd like you and Dad to come ... If you want to, that is." Audrey sniffled and sucked in another breath, then whispered, "I'm sorry, Mum." The message beeped, ending the recording. Audrey couldn't believe how awfully that had gone. She kicked herself not having prepared properly beforehand. Oh well, it was done now. The ball was in their court.