“Palmer, I don’t want to wait until it’s too late. Let’s look for a ticket for Cooper when we get home. It will be expensive, given the lack of time.” She licked her lips, knowing any offer of hers to help finances would come as an insult to her traditional husband. “We could pool our resources.”

“I’ll buy him the damn ticket.” Palmer’s face was as clouded as the sky.

She felt slapped. They hurried a few more steps in a tense silence, squinting as the intensifying wind tossed sand in their faces. Julia turned to study his face. It was set, and she didn’t like the worry she saw in the new lines carved around his eyes. Worry lines, her mother had called them. Julia wasn’t trying to be mean-spirited. But she had to ask.

“Palmer… are we okay?” When he didn’t reply, she asked in a softer voice, “Will we weather this storm?”

She felt the tension lower between them.

“I should be able to finish this house project,” Palmer said in a serious tone. “I need to get the house on the market right quick. But truth be told, who knows what the market will be like in this pandemic? Spring’s our busiest time, but everyone’s staying home. No one is looking to buy. But who knows this summer?”

Julia decided to be forthcoming and not protect him from the truth. “I was notified there may be delivery delays on the appliances.”

Palmer swung his head to look at her, then cursed under his breath. He ducked his head as wind gusted, then made the turn toward the dunes and forged ahead. He looked dejected, with his head down and shoulders slumped. Julia said a quick prayer that he wouldn’t fall off the wagon. He’d been sober for ten months. When they reached the beach path, he waited for her to catch up. His mama had trained him well.

“Don’t worry, Palmer. We’ll just have to take it day by day,” she offered, forcing her voice to sound upbeat.

“I reckon.” He didn’t sound convinced.

“We’ve weathered worse.”

Palmer’s chuckle was a welcome sound. He glanced her way, his eyes gleaming with appreciation of her support. “We have. And we pull though.”

“We always do.”

“We just have to tighten our belts,” he cautioned.

Julia knew that experience all too well. “I went shopping today. I just got the essentials, because they’re warning of shortages. Lord help us, you should’ve seen the crowds at Harris Teeter. And the shelves were nearly empty! I couldn’t get toilet paper! People are panicking, hoarding.” She rattled off the long list of food items she’d purchased as provisions. “This virus is making people act like a hurricane’s coming.”

“It’s an economic hurricane.”

As they approached the white 1940s beach house, Julia’s thoughts went, as they always did, to what she would do to its exterior, if only they had the money. She’d never loved this beach house the way Cara loved hers. That little cottage had such charm. She’d had fun helping Cara decorate that one. But this one…