Lindsay, Tanya and Angie were already at the table, having coffee, when Perry and his wife walked into the restaurant, at the Glynmill Inn.
Angie got up and hugged the two and introduced them to Lindsay and Tanya.
As soon as they sat, the waitress brought them coffee.
"Are you ready to order or do you need more time?"
Tanya looked around the table.
"I guess we can order now."
All agreed and placed their orders.
"I love what you are doing at Tuckamore Bay," Perry opened the conversation.
"Simple, yet elegant and the way you positioned the Motel and fishing boats. Superb."
Cathy, Perry's wife, agreed.
"I agree with Perry. Beautiful."
Lindsay smiled and put one hand on Tanya's shoulder.
"My future daughter-in-law is quite talented."
"You're engaged?" Angie wondered, a slight sad tinge to her voice.
"Yes and no. Its kinda hard to explain. Quinton, that's my boyfriend's name. Well there is a tradition in the Bay. Children, when they are very young, form this bond. A connection. And it kinda sticks."
"Like a prearranged marriage?"
Lindsay shook her head.
"No. It is hard to explain. Unless you were from the Bay."
She looked at Tanya.
"It doesn't always work out, but for Quinton and Tanya, it is a certainty."
"Okay," Tanya sighed.
"Enough about my personal life. That is not why we are here."
Tanya took hold Lindsay's hand and kissed it quickly, laying it back on the table.
"My future mother-in-law tends to get a little excited."
"Sorry," Lindsay blushed.
Perry laughed.
"Don't worry about it."
He looked at Tanya.
"So, I understand that you are having a hard time with your crews?"
"You could say that. We lost the electrical and plumbing and the sheet metal guys that were installing the furnaces and ductwork.
We have a enough carpenters in the Bay and roofers and even a couple electricians, but we need the rest."
"So what's the connection between the Bay and this Lamont dude?"
Tanya shook her head.
"Jackson Lamont is some billionaire from Alberta who has something in his head, that there is gold in Tuckamore Bay."
"Is there?"
Lindsay laughed.
"Not unless 'e bes talkin' 'bout some of the fillings in da old timer's mouths."
"There's no gold in the Bay," Tanya added.
"Lamont grabbed hold of some old rumors from back in the 1950s and he seems to think they are real."
"But what would he accomplish by cutting off your access to construction crews?"
"Power?" Tanya shrugged.
"I honestly don't know. But it has thrown a fucking wrench into our progress."
Lindsay continued.
"Lamont and his son in law, Simon Hirst, 'ave done just about everything to get us out of da Bay. Wese were slated fer relocation, but our asses got pulled out of da fire.
But this Lamont jest won't stop. He bes obsessed with this gold ting."
The waitress arrived with breakfast for the five and the talk stopped, until she left
"And you haven't been able to get any crews at all?"
Lindsay shook her head.
"Tanya has exhausted every contact she had. Even da men back at da Bay 'ave tried everyone dey knows. Dey bes workin' or Lamont got to them."
"So we are up the fucking creek, without a paddle and our boat is leaking."
Tanya took a forkful of eggs and wiped her mouth.
"We could wait this thing out. But we have invested a lot of money into this already and we are looking to invest a lot more. We don't want the projects on hold. We want them moving ahead."
Perry nodded.
"I can understand that. Are you willing to wait until after Christmas?"
Lindsay and Tanya looked at each other.
"I don't want to," Tanya explained.
"We have been paying good wages and full benefits. We have plans for the Bay and we have fought hard to get where we are. We want to keep the work going."
Cathy put her coffee down.
"Perry and I did some research on the Bay last night. You people in Tuckamore Bay have put on quite a fight. These two people, Bill and Matty, I believe, have really fought for the Bay."
"Bill and Matty own the Bay," Lindsay laughed.
"If youse wants to be technical, Tuckamore Bay is actually a business. Ise bes one of the vice-presidents of TBL."
"TBL?"
Lindsay looked at Cathy.
"TBL, stands fer Tuckamore Bay Limited. It bes da company dat Matty and Bill formed. Everyone who works in da Bay, works fer TBL."
Tanya continued.
"We want Tuckamore Bay to be a vacation spot. We have tons of plans for the future and we will slowly get everything in place. We have good people in the Bay who can do the work, but there is simply too much work to do and not enough people in the Bay to do it.
That is why we need outside help. And right now we are fucking desperate."
She took a deep breath.
"I don't want to put the projects on hold. We still have three good weeks to work, before Christmas and we can get a lot of work done in three weeks."
Perry put his fork on his plate and wiped his mouth.
"Well. Today is Tuesday."
He took a deep breath and sipped his coffee.
"So you need maybe six electricians, a couple carpenters, drywall, ductwork specialists."
Tanya nodded, as she finished her breakfast.
"That pretty much nails it."
Perry looked at his wife, as he put his coffee cup back down on the table.
"Cathy is an electrical contractor."
"I can get a crew together, pretty quick. As long as you don't mind women?"
Tanya shook her head.
"Not at all."
"Perry and I have some contacts and if you don't mind us using apprentices, we just might be able to get a full crew together for you."
"As long as you two are there to watch over them. My grandfather and John Dove will be there as well, but they don't have the full experience to deal with apprentices, unless they are welders."
"You have welding in the Bay?" Perry inquired.
Lindsay nodded.
"Wes has a welding and fabrication shop, dat wes set up in da old fish plant."
"You have room for a handful of apprentices?"
"Shouldn't bes a problem," Lindsay told him.
"Tanya's uncle and father run the plant and me husband, Carl, bes da welding supervisor."
"Do you have somewhere we can set up accommodations for the crews? Lets say six, four room units?"
"Yea," Tanya answered quickly.
"There be lots of room near the welding shop and we can hook up electricity off the plant."
"I have a buddy who can supply the units. Its off season for him, so we can get a good price, especially if you can get his kid in a welding apprentice position."
"Consider it done," Lindsay agreed, quickly.
"What else do you need?"
"I'll tell you what. Let me and Cathy make some calls and see how many people we can get for you."
"What about wages?"
Perry looked at Tanya.
"Most of these people will be apprentice or first year, so we will work out some deal. I can get them for a great price, as they need the experience."
Lindsay spoke.
"Why don't youse make your calls, get the crews together and then tells us what youse needs?"
She turned to Tanya.
"Wese can puts youse and Cathy up in da motel. Its bes more comfortable dere."
Perry shook his head.
"No. We stay with the crews. Kinda need babysitting sometime, but it would be great if we could set up some kind of meal program."
"Not a problem," Lindsay added.
"Wese will set up tree meals a day, at da Pub and ifin youse want, your guys can shower in the fab plant. Dey have ten showers in da plant and Ise will see dat it is sets up with everyting dat dey needs. Shampoo, soaps, lots of towels and such."
"And we have a doctor in the Bay and, as of yesterday, we have a fully functional ambulance, as well," Tanya added.
"And we have RCMP there, as well."
Perry turned to his wife and smiled.
"Well, let us make the calls and we will get back to you, as soon as we can."
Tanya passed both of them her business card.
"Call me anytime. My cell is always with me."
The two put the cards in their pocket.
"Well, it has been a pleasure meeting you," Cathy said, as she reached across the table to shake the women's hands.
Tanya stood and walked around the table. Cathy and Perry stood up and Tanya hugged each one of them.
"I can't thank you both enough."
Perry smiled.
"No problem. We will get back to you as soon as we can."
Tanya watched as the two left the restaurant. She turned and gave a little jump, punching the air.
"Yes."
She walked to Angie and hugged her from behind.
"Thank you so much."
Angie put her hands on Tanya's.
"Anything for you, hun."
Tanya sat back down, next to Angie.
"I am hiring Angie on as a consultant. She knows more about designing and blueprints and such, than I do and I will be able to continue my studies, with her on staff."
Lindsay nodded.
"Sure. Will she be working from home or from the Bay?"
"A little of both."
"I will work on an hourly contract basis," Angie informed them.
"I still have my classes at the college and I still do some online tutoring."
"It won't be too much?" Lindsay wondered.
"No," Angie shook her head.
"I will make time to help Tanya out."
She looked at the time on her cell.
"I have to go. I have a class at one."
All three women stood up. Angie shook Lindsay's hand, but gave Tanya a hug and kiss on the cheek.
"Later."
Tanya and Lindsay sat down.
Lindsay stared at Tanya.
"What?"
Lindsay sipped her coffee.
"I think that woman 'as the hots for you."
Tanya rolled her eyes, blushing slightly.
"You are crazy."
Lindsay shook her head.
"No. I don't think so. I was watching her and she kept looking at you, with that same look that Val looks at Randi."
Tanya stood up.
"You are crazy. And what is with youse and your accent?" Tanya asked, trying to change the subject.
"Youse knows me accent comes and goes. And stop trying to change the subject."
Lindsay stood up.
"But Ise would be careful, if Ise were you."
Tanya kissed her cheek.
"Stop worrying, Mom. Come on. Wese best be gettin' 'ome."
"Talk 'bout accent changin'."
Lindsay put her arm through Tanya's and the two left.
~~~~~
Perry waved goodbye to his sister and lit a cigarette. He was about to get in his truck, when a man approached him.
"You Perry Harris?"
Perry nodded.
"Who wants to know?"
The man approached, hand extended.
"I am Jackson Lamont."
Perry drew on his cigarette, nodding, but made no indication that he wanted to shake Jackson's hand.
"How can I help you, Mr. Lamont?"
Cathy got out of the truck and leaned on the back of the truck.
Jackson looked at the two.
"I heard you two are among the best at your trade and I am looking for good contractors for future work in Edmonton."
"You don't have enough people in Alberta to choose from?"
"Well, Mrs. Harris, there are certainly many contractors in Alberta, but many have projects planned and I have always found that crews from the Rock tend to be a better investment than locals, sometimes."
Cathy shook her head.
"Sorry, Mr. Jackson, but we have already accepted a position with TBL, to do work for them."
"Tuckamore Bay." Jackson laughed.
"That backward place can't keep crews on site. They are random and disorganized and they pay crap wages."
"Funny. I didn't get that impression when I was there yesterday. I thought they were doing great work and they seemed to be a very well run site.
Their only problem was someone suckered their crews to walk off site, which is something you never do here on the Rock."
Perry walked toward Jackson.
"Which is something our company would never do."
"Not even for double your normal rates?"
"Not even for triple," Cathy piped in.
"When we make a commitment, we stick to it. That is how we have managed to build the reputation that we have. We have made a commitment to Tanya Rideout and we intend to keep that commitment."
"You are making a mistake."
Perry stared at Jackson.
"How is that?"
"I am a powerful man and I always get what I want."
"Not this time," Perry informed him.
"Number one, your lawyer is an asshole. Number two. From what I can see, you are not a man to be trusted and number three, we prefer to work with our own.
We have never taken a job off the island and we never will."
"And we have great connections," Cathy added.
"And I will get the word out about you and how you are trying to sabotage a project here in Newfoundland.
I have already talked to Herbert White in St. Anthony. He told me what you promised his crews and the others at the Bay. They may trust you, but Perry and I are no idiots.
We have already done our research and you have no projects for the spring. You are going to keep those men and women on retainer until January first and then drop them, leaving them out in the cold."
Jackson smiled, as he took a cigar from the inside of his coat.
"So, it seems not all Newfs are hillbillies, after all."
He laughed as he lit his cigar.
"I would still be careful, if I were you."
Perry stood up straight and stared at Jackson.
"Are you threatening me?"
"Not at all, but accidents do happen."
Jackson started to walk away.
"Have a good day."
Cathy opened the passenger side door to the truck.
"What a fucking asshole."
Perry watched, as Jackson walked down the wooden stairs, that led to Glynmill Inn Pond.
"Yea, he is, but I wouldn't trust that asshole, at all. There is something definitely off about him."
The two got into the truck and left the parking lot.