Nathan gave me a warning look, the kind he used when he wanted me to drop a subject.

“Nanna is just confused, sweetheart,” Nathan said, his hand smoothing Eleanor’s gray hair.

“Her medicine makes her see things sometimes.”

I stood up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor.

“What medicine, Nathan?” I asked.

His hand paused on his mother’s head.

He didn’t look up at me, keeping his gaze fixed on the table.

“Just her usual prescriptions,” he said.

“She didn’t sound confused,” I said, my voice tight.

“She sounded terrified.”

Eleanor began to rock back and forth in her chair.

A low, whimpering sound came from her throat, like an animal trapped in a cage.

“I need to take her back to her room,” Nathan said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

He helped Eleanor rise from her chair.

She went easily, her strength suddenly vanished, leaving her frail and compliant.

“Lily, go up to your room and get your backpack ready for school,” I said.

Lily looked between us, then scrambled out of her chair and ran upstairs.