Her phone rang on the coffee table in front of her. It was the Regency, her mother’s care facility. Clare’s back tensed. It was the third call this week. She had Henry drive her out there every Thursday for a visit, and those visits were typically pleasant. Her mother was, mostly, cogent, relaxed, and well cared for. During their visits, Ella would tell Clare about all the activities she had participated in over the week. Then last month, something had changed. Her mother had been less lucid during their visits, more confused, and would often speak to Clare as if she were still a child. Last Thursday her mother had launched into a conversation about Clare’s upcoming high school graduation as if it were 1993. Without the doctors having to tell her so, she knew her mother’s condition was getting worse.

She picked up her phone. “Hello, this is Clare.”

“Ms. Collins, hello. This is Winston Crane, director here at the Regency.”

Clare sat up straighter. It was always hard to tell from the onset of a phone call if the reason why the top dog was contacting her directly was because the situation was really that serious or if it was simply because she was Clare Collins. “Yes. Hello, Winston.” She worked to keep the edge of panic from her voice. Maybe it wasn’t even about her mother. Maybe her assistant had simply forgotten to pay their enormous bill. She stood up and walked to the plate-glass wall. “I hope everything is okay?” she asked as she gazed out at the ocean, which was reflecting sharp shards of sunlight. A lone person in a kayak paddled far out beyond the breaks.

“Yes, well…I am sorry to be calling you again…”

Clare closed her eyes.

“But I’m afraid that Mrs. Kaczanowski—well, two members of our staff needed to restrain her. I know this is distressing to hear, but it was a safety measure we needed to deploy as your mother was physically attacking another resident. I assure you, it was only done in strict accordance with our policies on restraint and as a last resort to protect the other resident.”

Clare tilted her head back and closed her eyes again. She wasn’t sure what to say next: Is she okay? Is the other person okay? Why did she attack another person? Are you kicking my mother out?

“We are going to need you to come down and sign some paperwork. It’s part of our policies and procedures when restraint has been used.”

“Legal,” Clare blurted, returning her head to its upright position.