I am getting ready, I said.

I just wanted to make sure tomorrow is still on.

Today is Saturday, I said, and there was a little pause before she said, yes, I mean the birthday, and I smiled despite everything, because the small confusion was so ordinary and so hers.

Three o’clock, I told her.

Of course.

Your father and I will be there.

We would not miss Lily’s birthday.

She told me to tell Lily that Grandma had a surprise, and that I should not tell her what it was, and for a moment it was simply my mother on the phone being my mother, and I let it be that.