“What about Gordon?” Julia asked.

Linnea swallowed her sigh. Her mother’s not-so-secret goal in life was to see her only daughter married. “He’s still in the picture. But”—she shrugged—“he just told me that he might not be able to get into the country in April. Apparently, we’re not letting the Brits in. And by the way,” she said with more urgency, “I came to tell you. He warned we should get Cooper out as soon as possible. It’s chaos at the airports.”

Julia looked back at her husband with a pleased smile. “Your daddy was on it like a tick on a dog,” she said, reaching out to pat his shoulder. “Weren’t you, honey? Cooper’s on a plane home tomorrow.”

“Really! Oh, Daddy, good for you. I have to say, that’s a relief. I asked Gordon to look out for him, but it seems you’ve got it all taken care of. Mama, be sure to tell Cooper to wear a mask.”

“He’s a big boy.”

“He’s a boy. ’Nuff said. Really, Mama, all those people crammed into an airplane… Look what’s happened with David.”

“How is David?” Julia asked, all concern.

“You heard he’s sick, right?”

“What? No!”

Palmer stepped closer. “Not that coronavirus?” The worry in his voice rang clear. Palmer liked David. They occasionally hunted together, went fishing. They were brothers-in-law. But most of all, David was an investor in Palmer’s company.

“I think so,” said Linnea. “Cara said he’s got a fever and headache and a cough. I mean, that’s the trinity of symptoms. But there’s no test available, so we don’t know for sure. He’s staying in strict quarantine, of course. Cara’s feeding him chicken soup by the gallon. She’s giving her instapot a workout.”

Palmer shook his head. “Damn, that’s bad luck.”

“That’s why I’m concerned about Cooper. He’ll have to go into quarantine when he gets home.” Then with worry, “Mama, you and Daddy will be careful, won’t you? With him living with you and all. He might be a carrier too. Spray the house every day with antibacterial soap. Wear a mask if he’s in the same room.”

“I know, honey,” Julia said reproachfully.

“Take this seriously, Mama. John’s in quarantine at Emmi’s, but at least he’s staying in the carriage house. Cooper’s going to be living right in the house with you.”

“What’s that?” Julia latched on to that comment. “John is back in town? John Peterson?”

Now the cat’s out of the bag, Linnea thought. Anything remotely connected to Linnea’s love life was of top interest to her mother. John had never been her parents’ choice of a proper suitor. Her mother had always considered John a rival to her earlier beau, who came from one of Charleston’s historic families. The two families had been planning their wedding since they were in diapers. Her parents both felt justified in their opinion of John once he’d lured their daughter clear across the country to California, of all places.

“He’s been back for almost two weeks now.”