I wake to a low voice saying my name, and I focus in on Dad’s face looking down at me. “What are you doing in here?” he whispers. He moves Clay to the side so I can climb out.

“He had a nightmare.” I can barely look at Dad. I can’t tell him that I’m the one who was scared and lonely. I can’t tell him that his mother is slowly losing her memory and I can’t seem to do a thing to stop it.

“All that talk about the zoo last night at dinner made your mom nostalgic. She and Gram are taking Clay to the zoo today. I’m sure she’d love for you to join them.”

What if Gram has one of her memory episodes in front of Mom? The panic of last night swells like a tidal wave in my blood.

I quickly get ready and run down the stairs.

“Can I ask Olivia and Max if they want to go to the zoo?” I ask as soon as I get to the kitchen. “I, um, think it might help Olivia, you know, take her mind off her dad leaving.”

Gram looks up from where she’s doing the crossword puzzle at the kitchen table. “What a lovely idea, Lulu. You’re such a good friend.”

The image of her frightened and crying last night is in a shimmering square in front of me. My stupid memory seems to be using it as a screensaver that I can’t take down, and I want to crawl into her lap and hug her tight like I used to when I was younger.

Dad swallows a sip of coffee. “Who’s this Max you speaketh of?”

“Just a friend.”

He looks to Gram for a longer explanation. “From the stables,” she says helpfully. “He helps his dad train horses and teach the riding classes. A very sweet boy.”

“Does Rose know him?” He frowns like he does when he’s worried about Mom. “She had a rough night last night. A lot of people might be too much for her.”

“I don’t even know if he can come,” I say. It’s not like I had the best sleep last night either. What about me? Or Gram? Why is he always so worried it will be too much for Mom?

“Go ahead and ask them,” Gram says. “I’ll entertain the kids and let Rose just enjoy taking pictures of the animals.”

Dad takes another gulp of coffee before tightening the lid on his travel mug. “Your call. Let me know if you need me.”

Once he leaves, I text Olivia and Max. I glance at Gram. She bites the side of her cheek as she writes in a word. Does she remember anything about last night?

“Want some breakfast?” Gram asks with a smile. I love her smiles. They fill her entire face and make her eyes almost disappear.