“You sound like a mother hen,” Palmer said, patting her hand. “First of all, he’s not in some third-world country. He’s in England. They’re getting a firm hold on this thing. And second…” He turned his head to give her a warning look. “Don’t forget, Cooper is a grown man now. A junior in college. You can’t baby him. He’ll let us know what he needs.”

“But how will he know?” She was in no mood to leave her son’s safety up to chance, or even up to the university’s decision whether to close the college. “He might be twenty-one, but he’s not an experienced traveler.” She squeezed Palmer’s arm. “Wait, that gives me an idea. We should call David. He’s there now. Cooper can fly out with him.”

“David’s already on a plane out of London.”

“Already?” She exhaled with disappointment. “Well, phooey. See what I mean about an experienced traveler? He got out.”

“Honey, Oxford hasn’t canceled classes yet. He’s not going to be stranded. They’ll have a plan. They’re British, after all.” He looked up at the sky. “I don’t know about us, though. We’re the ones in trouble. We’d best pick up the pace. Come on, girl!”

He released her arm and they hustled along the sand as thunder rumbled louder, closer. Julia pumped her arms as her maternal adrenaline kicked in.

“What airport will he be allowed to fly into?” Julia asked, mulling this over. “The news channels are so vague. No one seems to know what’s happening. Can’t you just buy him a ticket and bring him back now?”

“Like I said, we have to trust our son.”

She cast him a suspicious glance. He was stalling. When Palmer wanted something done, he plowed forward like a bull in the harness.

“He may have to fly first-class to get out. Do you have the money for his ticket?” she asked.

Palmer didn’t reply, but his lips set in a grim line.

Julia felt a now familiar flutter of fear in her gut. She didn’t mean to embarrass him, but the question had to be asked. Money was always tight, but lately he’d been closemouthed about how tight. That usually meant trouble.

“I have money set aside from my business,” she offered. “Mrs. James is scheduled to return in April when her house is finished. She owes me a pretty penny.” She chewed her lips. “But with flights from the UK suspended, who knows when she will be allowed to fly in? I won’t get paid in full until her final approval.”

“I’m fine.”

Julia walked beside her husband, keenly aware of the shift in dynamics between them. Palmer, like his father before him, had a firm grasp on the family finances. The men did not “bother” their wives with figures. Yet after Palmer had gone bankrupt and the family sold off their holdings and Julia had begun her decorating business, she had experienced a heady sense of empowerment. Julia danced on the head of a pin—trying to give Palmer his respect, while rejecting her role as the little woman. Julia no longer trusted Palmer’s business acumen, or his remaining sober. She was beginning to rely on herself.