Matty walked into Dove's Pub, jumped up on the bar and let out a extremely loud whistle. She quickly got the attention of everyone in the bar.
"Is youse be tryin' to burst our eardrums, Matty," Henry Tucker complained.
"I just need everyone's attention. I have some news that affects us all."
"Don't be tellin' us dat youse has another buyer fer the Bay," Wycliff Rideout moaned.
"Dats beginnin' to be old news, Matty."
Many of those in the Pub voiced their opinion.
Once again Matty let loose with a loud whistle.
"Well you all be quiet for a few minutes and let me talk."
"Ifin youse buys da beer, Ise be quiet," Clayton Rideout informed her.
"Fuck," Matty muttered under her breath.
"If that's what it takes to shut you all up for a few minutes, then," she turned to the young woman behind the bar.
"Give them a round on me, Val."
Valerie Pike nodded and started opening beers.
"Now," Matty spoke, "can I have a few minutes of your time."
There was a chorus of agreement.
"And yes, I believe I have a buyer for the Bay."
"Matty, wese all loves ya, but wese been down dis road before," Linda Tucker reminded her.
"I know, but this guy is different."
"And 'ow bes dat?" Harry Tucker wanted to know.
"What makes 'e any diff'rent den da rest?"
Matty took a deep breath.
"He thinks he is only buying the lighthouse. He doesn't know anything about buying the rest of the Bay or about the relocation."
A loud groan echoed through the Pub.
"Matty, isn't dat a little bit of a lie?" Henry Tucker sighed.
"It is. It is," Matty defended, "but, he has agreed to the same price as the others and as far as he knows, it is only for the lighthouse."
"Dis guy must be a brick shy of a load," Freddy Simpson laughed.
"Youse wud know, Freddy," Ryan Pike cracked.
The huge woman sitting with Freddy jumped up, her fist in the air.
"Ise be knocking' yer fuckin' 'ead off, Ryan, ifin youse says anyting bad 'bout me love Freddy again."
"For fuck sake," Matty yelled.
"Will you all sit down and let me talk."
She turned to the young bartender.
"Val, give me a whiskey will you?"
Valerie Pike poured some 5 Star whiskey in a glass and passed it to Matty.
"Youse has more guts then I do, Matty."
Matty downed the drink and passed the glass back to Valerie.
"Another."
When Valerie passed the second drink to Matty she started talking again.
"Look. I think we have a real chance with this guy. The man I have helping me with the sale, Dave Wells, told me that this guy, Bill Williams, was specifically looking for a lighthouse."
"Fer what?" Clayton Rideout asked.
"What's 'e goin' to do wit it?"
"Live in it."
Clayton laughed.
"Live in da fuckin' light'ouse? Where?"
Matty sipped her drink.
"He will be living in Nanny Dove's house."
"And she bes okay wit that?" several people shouted at the same time.
"And what about youse, Matty?" Yolanda Pike wondered.
"Where will youse live?"
"I will stay in the guest house, with Nanny."
Yolanda shook her head.
"Ise don't like that, Matty. That don't seems fair to me."
Many of the others in the pub agreed.
Matty put up a hand.
"Please. Please. Just listen."
Matty finished her drink and put the glass on the bar.
"If this is what it takes to save the Bay, then I am willing to do it."
"Whats 'bout Nanny Dove?" Linda Tucker wondered.
"She's bes gud wit this?"
"It was actually her idea."
A hush fell over the bar.
"Look," Matty continued, "this is no certainty. The final papers are not signed. This guy, Bill Williams will probably be here tomorrow."
"Whats does youse knows 'bout 'e?" Henry Tucker asked.
"Not much. I looked on the internet but didn't find a whole hell of a lot. From what Mr. Wells told me, he figures this man is an older gent looking for a place to retire and he has some money and he wants to live in a lighthouse."
Matty lowered herself down and sat on the bar.
"I have to tell him all the facts when he gets here."
"So 'e cud still back out?" Henry Tucker wondered.
Matty shrugged.
"He could."
Carl Pike stood up.
"Matty, wese all loves da Bay. Dere bes no doubtin' dat. But me and some of da other young fellas can't bes bankin' on maybes. Wese has to work. Ifin wese can't find work 'ere, den wese has to go away."
"I know that Carl. And I wish I could guarantee you that this guy will be the saviour of the Bay, but I can't."
Carl sat down.
"Wese knows dat Matty and wese all tanks youse fer all da work youse has done. But youse has to understand where wese are comin' from too."
"I do Carl and believe me, I will do all I can to get this man to help us. I do have a good feeling about this, but, as we all know, nothing is a certainty."
Henry Tucker stood.
"Maybe wese shud 'ave a big welcome fer dis guy. Maybe put up a banner and 'ave everyone bes on da road when 'e arrives."
"No," Matty yelled.
"No. Apparently this guy is a loner and he does not like to be in the spotlight. Let's just let him come into the Bay and see it as it is."
"Well, ifin 'e bes an older gent," Betty Johnstone suggested, "den maybe wese shud 'ave one of da older womens be 'round 'im."
"What and scare da poor guy away," her husband, Ron laughed.
"Ifin anyone can convince dis guy, it wud be Matty dere. She bes our best chance of gittin' dis guy to stay."
"Thanks, Ron. For the vote of confidence."
Matty took a deep breath and looked around the packed pub.
"All I can say is that I will do my best and even if this one falls through, I will keep trying. Right up until that fateful day when they try to close the Bay, I will keep fighting."
Wilson Pike walked to the bar and stood next to Matty.
"But youse has to live too, Matty."
He looked around the pub.
"Ise don't knows 'ow da rest of youse feels, but Ise tinks Matty has done enuf."
He looked back at Matty and took her hands in his.
"Ifin dis one falls thru, Matty, den Ise tinks youse needs to let its go. Youse has done enuf."
Matty started shaking her head, as the others in the pub agreed with Wilson.
"No. No. A thousand fucking times, NO. I will never stop."
Wilson kissed Matty's cheek.
"Wese not be asking' youse Matty. Wese bes tellin' youse.
Youse done enuf. Its bes over, ifin dis Williams guy backs out. Wese all gotta git on wit our lifes. And so does youse."
Matty couldn't speak, as tears filled her eyes.
Wilson picked up his beer from the bar.
"Ise tinks wese all needs ro raise a glass to Tuckamore Bay's 'eart and soul."
He kissed Matty's cheek again.
"To Matty Dove."
The whole pub raised their glasses and drank.
Matty cried.