Bill was sitting at the top of his lighthouse, looking out across the ocean. Earlier that day he had driven to Deer Lake and bought three nice padded lawn chairs and a small table, to put on the veranda that surrounded the top of the lighthouse.
He was just pouring a second scotch when he heard the door to the veranda open.
"So this is where you are hiding."
Jarge waddled across and met Matty at the door.
"Hey there Jarge."
She opened a plastic bag, that she had in her hand and passed Jarge a fresh capelin.
He swallowed it whole.
Matty laughed.
"Jarge is a bit of a pig. Don't even chew his food."
Jarge squawked at her.
"That's it. Now go away," Matty waved her hand at the seagull.
Jarge waddled across in front of Bill and jumped up on a lawn chair, next to him.
Matty laughed.
"Honestly, Bill. You are spoiling that bird."
She bent down and gave Bill a quick peck on the lips.
"Mind if I have a drink?"
"Help yourself."
Matty sat in the chair, son the other side of the small table and stared at Bill as she poured her drink.
"Well I guess the honeymoon is over."
Bill never responded. He continued to stare out across the ocean, as he puffed on his White Owl cigar.
Matty sipped her drink.
"You okay, Bill?"
"Yea. Why do you ask?"
"Well for one, I had to pour my own drink and you haven't even offered me a cigar."
Bill turned to her.
"They are right there on the table, Matty."
He looked back out over the ocean.
He could feel Matty glaring at him.
"You know if you don't want me here, I can leave," Matty offered.
Bill shook his head and turned to Matty..
"Can I ask you a question and you give me an honest answer?"
She pulled her chair out, so Bill could see her.
"Ask."
"Why did you stop me last week?"
"What do you mean?"
Bill took a deep breath and then let out a long sigh.
"Why did you stop me from leaving the Bay?"
"Because I didn't want you to leave."
Why?" Bill shrugged my shoulders.
"What difference would it have made?"
"I would have missed you."
Bill shook his head and turned back to the ocean.
"You would have gotten over it."
Matty was completely caught off guard by Bill's attitude.
"Bill? What is wrong? Did I do something?"
He shook my head.
"No.
But that is just the problem."
"You are making no sense, Bill. I didn't do anything, but you have a problem with it?"
Bill leaned forward, still not looking at Matty.
"You kissed me that day. Why?"
"Because I thought that was the only way I could get you to stay."
Bill closed his eyes, shaking his head.
"That makes no sense, Matty."
"Why not?"
Bill turned to her.
"Because you don't go around kissing guys to make them do what you want them to do."
Matty smiled, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.
"Bill. Women have been doing that for centuries."
Bill stood up and walked to the rail.
"I am being serious here, Matty."
"What do you want me to say, Bill?"
"Nothing."
He quickly finished his drink and threw his cigar into the ocean below.
"I'm going to bed."
Matty looked at her watch.
"Its eight-thirty Bill."
"I'm tired."
He stared at Matty.
"Is that okay with you?"
"If you're waiting for me to move, you will be waiting a long time."
Matty stretched across the narrow veranda.
"Then I will go around."
Bill started off in the opposite direction.
"I don't have time for this shit."
Matty jumped up from her chair. She grabbed Bill by the arm, stopping him.
"Bill. For God's sake, what is wrong?"
"I thought you liked me," he sighed, without turning.
Matty walked in front of Bill, staring at him.
"I do like you. Why do you think I went after you? Why do you think I begged you to stay?"
Bill's eyes opened wide and he laughed slightly.
"That was begging? You were going to smash my windows out."
Matty lowered her head and bit her lip.
"Look, I know what is bothering you."
She took a deep breath and looked back up at Bill.
"I know you are used to girls from the city. Those easy one night stands and all that stuff. But that is not me."
"Its not me either, Matty," Bill protested.
"I have never had a one night stand in my life.
For fuck sakes, I'm thirty-three years old and I have had only one serious relationship in my life. And she cheated on me."
Bill turned away from Matty and looked out over the ocean.
"You know when I won this money, I thought it would change my life. I thought I would be able to get any woman I wanted. I thought I was going to live the playboy life."
He laughed.
"What a fucking joke."
"So, why didn't you?"
"I went to a singles resort in Mexico. I thought all my money would make me the most popular person there.
I found out pretty quick that you can have all the money in the world, but that doesn't make you interesting, or desirable."
Bill turned to Matty.
"I was still a shift manager at the big 'M'. A life of flipping burgers doesn't interest many people. I spent most of the two weeks sitting at the beach, drinking margaritas that Mario brought me. He was a young man who had just got married. He had the most beautiful wife. But they had nothing, just a small apartment."
Bill smiled slightly, remembering the day he went into the local town and met Mario and his wife.
"I went to town the day before I left. I took Mario and Maria out for lunch and before I left I gave him a a present and told him not to open it until I left."
"What was in the present?"
Bill laughed.
"$20,000. I wanted to give him more, but that was all I could withdraw from the bank, without being interrogated as a drug dealer."
Matty laughed. She had the most beautiful laugh.
She took Bill's arm and put it around her shoulder, taking his hand and locking her fingers with his.
"I am thirty-three years old too, Bill. The only difference is that I have never had a serious relationship in my life. I have dated, but once they got to know me, that was that."
"Why? You are beautiful."
Matty put her free arm around Bill's waist and moved in close.
"Because ...
ah because ..."
She took a deep breath.
"I am old fashioned, Bill. The first man who ever has me, will be the last one."
Bill gasped.
"Why? Do you plan to kill them and eat them, like the Black Widow spider."
"Will you be serious," Matty barked at him.
"Sorry."
Bill got brave and kissed the top of her head.
"I just want the first to be the man I want to spend the rest of my life with."
She looked up at Bill.
"Does that make sense?"
"Well it explains a lot."
"I don't want to lead you on, Bill."
Tears started filling Bill's eyes. He wasn't exactly sure why, but he just couldn't stop them. To him it was just the same old story of his life.
Bill let go of Matty's hand and pulled away from her.
"I am leaving. Night Matty."