“Anna is depressed,” Linnea told him.

“I wondered about that. I can count on one hand the number of smiles I’ve seen.”

“I’m worried about her. She seems so lost. What should I do?”

“Be patient. Offer her support.”

“Living with her is beginning to make me depressed. It’s like there’s this cloud inside the house.”

“That’s not good. Did you talk to her about it?”

“I tried.”

“And?”

“She listened. Still, she’s pretty much staying in her room.”

“Do you want my suggestion?”

She looked at him and raised her brows. “Do I dare ask?”

He shrugged.

“Okay,” Linnea said with a light laugh. “What is your suggestion?”

“It’s simple. If a dark cloud is hovering inside the house, get outdoors. It’ll do you good. Cheer you up. Hope’s little garden patch needs tending. I’ll be putting koi in the pond this week. Come over and help me. And”—he extended his hand toward the ocean—“in case you’ve forgotten, there’s a whole friggin’ beach out there.”

She laughed, and he joined in. It felt good to feel that childlike laugh well up inside her again, one that lifted the spirits.

LATER, CARA AND David joined them on their trek to the beach. Hope led the way from their back patio along the path to the shore. It turned out to be a perfect day to end the month of April. The sun dazzled in a cloudless sky and the onshore breezes caressed the skin. Isle of Palms was temporarily closed to the public with checkpoints and restricted access to the island due to Covid-19. Starting on April 21, the beach had been declared open for exercise only—running, walking, dog-walking, biking, surfing, and other recreational activities that allowed social distancing. Sunbathing, loitering without moving, and groups of three or more people were prohibited, except for families.

The tide was low, and all along the shoreline, couples walked; some at a brisk pace, others in a relaxed stroll. It seemed to Linnea that people came to escape the confines of walls. To feel the open space, the fresh air, the great expanse of water more now than ever. While David and John talked, Linnea grabbed the private moment to talk with Cara.

“I talked to Gordon last night,” she told Cara.

“That’s nice,” Cara replied. Her white floppy beach hat had a chic orange and white ribbon. Linnea tugged on the bill of her Turtle Team ball cap against the breeze. She was wearing a cutoff T-shirt over yoga pants, which had become somewhat of a uniform these days.

“He’s arriving in a few weeks. Somehow, he made it happen.”

“I’m happy for you.” Cara turned and, searching Linnea’s face, said carefully, “You are happy about it?”

“Oh yes, of course,” she replied, a tad too quickly.

“But…”

“But there’s a problem.”

“There’s always a problem with travel these days.”

“Not travel,” Linnea said. “Housing. Gordon wanted to get the same house he did last summer, but sadly, it’s rented for the season. He’s checked everywhere and there isn’t a place available. The islands are fully rented. You wouldn’t know of anyone who’d rent their house? Or has an apartment?”