Carl Pike picked up his cellphone from the table.
"Hey Tanya."
"We gots problems, Carl. Youse better get down to Sandy Cove, right now."
The cellphone went dead in his hand.
"Tanya? Tanya?"
Lindsay sat in a chair across from her husband. Carl got up immediately and put on his coat.
"Was it someting Ise didn't say?" Lindsay chuckled.
"Git yer coat on hun. That was Tanya and she sounds all in a tizzy."
Lindsay took a mouthful of coffee and stood up.
"What's goin' on?"
Carl shook his head, as he put on his toque.
"Don't knows. She jest says someting goin' on at Sandy Cove."
Lindsay quickly got her coat and joined her husband at the front of the Pub. As soon as they walked outside, they saw several motor homes drive past them. They looked up the road and saw several more leaving the Bay.
"What the fuck?" Carl swore.
He stepped into the road and stopped the next motor home. He recognized the woman driving the vehicle.
The woman opened the window next to her.
"Hey Carl."
"Monica. What is goin' on?"
The woman shrugged.
"Don't rightly knows, Carl. Da boss showed up 'ere dis morning, 'ad a meetin' with us and told us all to go home."
"That don't make no sense," Lindsay chirped.
"Wese not finished the job."
"Ise don't knows love. Youse best talk to Norman. 'e still bes at da motel with Tanya, John and Clayton.
All Ise knows is wese were told to go 'ome and wese wud be paid to da end of da year."
"This makes no sense," Carl remarked, shaking his head.
Monica shrugged again.
"Makes no sense to me either, Carl, but when da boss says go. Wese go.
Da only ones on site now, bes da people from da Bay. Da plumbers and electricians are already gone."
Carl looked at his wife.
"What the fuck is going on?"
Another motor home behind Monica honked their horn.
Monica waved out the window.
"Ise sorry, Carl, Lindsay, but Ise best bes going.
Good luck," she sighed, as she closed the window and started the motorhome off, down the cobblestone road.
Carl grabbed his wife hand.
"Come on. Wese best 'urry."
Ten minutes later, the two walked into the main lobby of the Sandy Cove Motel. They saw Tanya, John Dove and Clayton Rideout talking to a man, near a table with coffee and muffins.
The two hurried to the table.
"But you has an agreement with us," Tanya barked at the man.
"Wese don't 'ave a formal contract," the man reminded her.
"What's youse talkin' 'bout, Norm," John snapped back.
"Since when does we needs a fucking contract?"
"Ise sorry, John, but Ise gots to look out fer my peoples. Ise got a major contract fer them, fer next year, under da condition that we walk from this job. It bes steady work fer my people."
"We pulled yer ass out of da fire, Norman," Tanya snapped back.
"Your people were on unemployment and we gave them work. You fucking owe us."
Norman pointed his finger at Tanya.
"Listen here, little girl."
"Youse best take that finger out of my face," Tanya sneered, "unless youse wants me to tear it off yer hand."
Lindsay stepped between the two, looking at Tanya.
"Take it easy, love."
"Yes," Norman agreed.
"Youse best listen to your elders."
Lindsay turned to the man.
"And youse best listen to me. Number one. Ise jest saved yer ass and believe me, right now, Ise jest as soon give yer ass to dat little girl, who would probably kick yer fat ass.
Number two. Youse 'as a verbal agreement with TBL, which is binding.
Number three. Ifin youse don't get yer people back on dis site by tomorrow morning, wese will drag yer ass through court and youse will never work in da province again."
Norman smiled.
"Wese don't needs to. Ise been in negotiations with a man from Alberta, whose promised me work fer da next year, at almost double what youse payin' us and 'e is payin' me whole crew til da end of da year."
"Do youse 'as a contract?"
Norman looked at Carl.
"Wese still in negotiations, but he deposited a nice big fat cheque in me account to pay me people until da end of da year. Can youse match dat?"
Carl shook his head.
"No, wese can't Norm, but den again, what ifin dat contract don't come through?"
"Ise been assured dat dis is goin' to be. Mr. Penny gave me 'is guarantee."
Tanya stepped forward again.
"But we also guaranteed you work," she reminded the man.
"We has tons of work comin' up."
"But Mr. Penny telled me dat his client will pay a sixty percent relocation fee and double-time for overtime. Plus 'e will fly me crew up dere and provide accommodations and per diem."
Lindsay looked at her husband and then Tanya.
"Sounds too good to be true."
Clayton laughed.
"And usually when someting sounds too gud to bes true, it usually ain't."
He sipped his coffee, staring at Norman.
"Wese been friends fer what now, Norm? 'bout forty year?"
Norman nodded.
"Dis 'as nothin' to do with friendship, Clayt. Dis bes strictly business.
Ise gots to looks out fer me crew."
Lindsay stared at Norman.
"Cameron Penny?"
"What?"
"Dis Penny fella, youse been talkin' to. 'e bes Cameron Penny?"
Norman nodded.
"Dat bes 'is name. Youse knows 'im?"
Lindsay looked at the others.
"Dat bes da same lawyer what was da lawyer fer Simon Hirst."
"Youse tinks Simon Hirst bes behind dis?" John wondered.
Tanya shook her head.
"Ise don't think so."
"Why do you say that, love?"
"Ise read something last week, Linny. Something about Simon Hirst missing."
Tanya took out her cellphone and a moment later stepped closer to Lindsay. She showed her the cellphone.
"Yea, right here.
Simon Hirst disappeared in a snowstorm, when he was on a trip with his father in law, Lamont Jackson. That was almost three weeks ago."
Tanya scrolled her screen.
"They have pretty much called off the search."
Norman took his toque out of his coat pocket.
"Look. Ise sorry 'bout all dis, but, like Ise said, Ise gots to look after me people."
Tanya put her cellphone back in her coat pocket.
"You are making a mistake, Norman. This sounds kinda fishy to me."
Norman laughed.
"Youse jest bes a little girl. Best bes leavin' dese tings to da grown-ups."
Lindsay laughed.
"Who do youse think is in charge of this project?"
"John and Clayt, of course."
Clayton laughed.
"Me granddaughter bes da boss 'ere, Norm. Ise told youse dat before."
Norman stared at Clayton and then at Tanya.
"Ise taught youse were jokin'. Ise taught she be like a gopher or someting."
Tanya took a deep breath and looked at Lindsay and Carl.
"I am going to find us a new crew. There has to be someone in Deer Lake or Corner Brook."
She stared at Norman.
"I'll get a crew from central or St. John's if I has to."
She pointed her finger at Norman.
"You just fucked yer crew. Ise don't know what, but there be something just not right about all of this and I think that when the new year rolls in, your crew is going to be out of work."
Tanya turned to Lindsay.
"Its gonna cost us extra. I am going to offer five dollars more to the new crews. Put the daily allowance to $50 plus meals at the Pub."
Lindsay nodded.
"Do what you have to do."
Tanya walked away, pulling out her cellphone.
Clayton walked to Norman. He slapped him on the shoulder.
"Youse jest made a huge mistake, Norm."
He patted his shoulder again.
"Ise gots a feelin' youse gonna get fucked on dis."
Clayton walked away, toward a couple men, standing near the front desk.
"K, men. Let's git back at 'er."
John shook his head.
"Youse won't work 'ere again, Norm and like Tanya said, wese gots tons of work comin' up."
He waked away, as well.
Carl took a deep breath.
"Best youse be leavin' Norm."
"Ise sorry 'bout dis."
"So are wese, Norm," Lindsay agreed.
"Jest remember dat when dis all goes to shit and all youse people best out of work in January, youse not welcome back 'ere."
Tanya walked back to the three.
"Ise off to Corner Brook. Ise been talking to a couple contractors already and they be really interested."
"Want some company?" Lindsay offered.
"Sure."
The two women left.
"I am sorry Carl."
Carl shrugged.
"Youse do what youse 'as to do, Norm. Jest remember. When youse makes yer bed, youse got to lay in it."
Norman nodded and walked away.
Carl watched until he was out the front door and then poured another coffee.
~~~~~
"Light me one?" Tanya asked, noticing Lindsay was lighting a cigarette.
Lindsay passed one to Tanya.
"You think Jackson is behind this?"
Tanya nodded.
"I do. I don't know what he is after, but I am sure he is involved somehow."
"I wonders what he were looking for, dat night at Bill and Matty's?"
Tanya laughed.
"Not sure, but I think he is lucky he didn't get his balls shot off."
Lindsay smiled.
"Yea. Randi is one tough young lady."
"You okay with Val and Randi?"
Lindsay nodded, as she puffed her cigarette.
"I am getting used to it. Randi is so easy to like. I kept tryin' to find tings not to like, but dere be nothing."
"She is a sweetheart," Tanya agreed.
"And Val is absolutely in love with her."
Lindsay took a deep breath.
"I know. And dat scares me a bit. What if Randi breaks her heart?"
Tanya shook her head.
"I don't think you have to worry about that."
"And why is that?"
"I've talked to Randi, on a couple occasions. She is crazy about Val. And she loves it here in da Bay."
Lindsay put out her cigarette, in the cup ashtray, in the console.
"Well, I am a Mom and I care about my kids."
She turned to Tanya.
"Which brings me to my other child."
Tanya took one last puff on her cigarette and put it out.
"Your other child is just fine."
"You know Quinton is head over heels about you, don't you?"
Tanya smiled.
"I know."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Seriously?"
Lindsay playfully slapped Tanya on the shoulder.
"Driving here," Tanya joked.
"All he talks about is Tanya. He just loves that you are finally paying attention to him."
"Well, I have tormented that poor guy for long enough."
"Are you sure you are ready for this?"
"How do you mean?"
"Tanya, you have an important job, that takes up so much of your time."
Tanya nodded.
"That's true. And that is why I need Quinton right now. I need the distraction."
"So my son is a distraction?"
Tanya laughed.
"That came out wrong. I need that normalcy in my life. I need to be dragged away from this madness sometimes.
Fuck, I'm barely nineteen years old. I need to keep hold of who I am and Quinton does that."
"And when you are comfortable again?"
Tanya turned quickly and glanced at Lindsay.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, once you don't need the distraction anymore."
Tanya reached across and took Lindsay's hand. She squeezed it slightly.
"Stop worrying, Mom. Your kids are fine and they are going to stay that way."
Tanya let go of Lindsay's hand, as she turned west on the highway, that led to Corner Brook.
"Want a coffee? I need to get gas anyway."
"You pump and I will get the coffee."
Ten minutes later, the two women were sitting in the truck, outside the gas station.
Tanya turned in her seat, to face Lindsay.
"Val is happy. If things don't work out between her and Randi, then that bes how it is. But I wouldn't worry too much. Those two are crazy about each other."
"I hope so."
"And as far as your little boy goes, don't worry about him either. Quinton and I have been connected from birth. We just had to get to a point where we were ready.
And I think that time is here."
Tanya sipped her coffee.
"I got a visit from Nanny Rideout."
Lindsay's eyes opened wide.
"How long has it been since youse saw her?"
"A long time. She come to tell me that things were right."
Lindsay put her hand on Tanya's.
"That's wonderful."
Tanya smiled.
"I love Quinton. Always have and I always will, so don't worry."
"But he bes going away in the spring."
Tanya turned in her seat and started the truck.
"Its only be a short flight to Halifax and I am kinda me own boss. I can fly up on weekends."
She drove off the parking lot and back on the highway.
"So stop worrying, Mom."
Tanya patted ger hand.
"Now let's go and get some new crews for our work."
Lindsay sat back in her seat, a tear rolling down her cheek.