Bill had just finished a beer when a knock came to his front door.
"Who could that be?"
He opened the door.
"Matty?"
"You ready for the meeting?"
Bill nodded.
"Yea, just let me get my briefcase."
He headed for the coffee table.
"Since when do you knock."
"Since I no longer live here," Matty answered, still standing outside.
Bill joined here outside.
"You know you are always welcome."
Matty started walking away.
"Come on. They are waiting for us."
Bill hurried to catch up with Matty and they walked in silence until they reached the Village Center.
"Wait a second."
Matty stopped and turned.
"What?"
"Is this the way it is going to be?"
"What?"
"Look. The only way this is going to work is if we talk. Can't we at least try to be civil with each other?"
"Sure," Matty turned away, hiding the smirk on her face.
"Come on. We are meeting in the Mayor's office."
Moments later Bill and Matty were sitting in the small office of Mayor Tucker. John and Joyce Dove were there as well.
"Nice to sees youse 'ere again, Bill."
"Thank you Mayor."
Joyce Dove grunted.
"Mainlander."
She looked at Mayor Tucker.
"Ise don't knows why wes bes wastin' our time 'ere. Dat mainlander dere made it clear da last time 'e were 'ere dat 'e not be 'elpin' us."
Bill opened his briefcase and took out the documents 201, 2, and 3 and closed his briefcase.
"These are the documents that Matty gave me after I agreed to buy the lighthouse. I had them made null and void by a lawyer, but there are a lot of good ideas in there and if Matty agrees, I will work with her and with the rest of the Bay to try and implement some of these ideas."
Mayor Tucker put up his hand.
"Wes appreciates all dat youse is sayin' dere, Bill. But da truth is ..."
He paused, as he looked at Matty.
"Spite all da tings dat Matty 'as done fer us, dere bes a growin' bunch of people 'ere in da Bay dat are not as optimistic as Matty bes."
"But we still have time," Matty pleaded.
Mayor Tucker stopped her.
"Matty, youse knows dat we all loves youse. Youse is da 'eart and soul of da Bay and no one 'as done more or suffered more den youse 'ave.
And wes knows dat youse 'as spent all youse inheritance and more besides and wes all 'as 'elped youse da best we can and wes will keep doin' so, but Matty, many tinks youse bes fightin' a losin' battle."
Bill turned to Matty.
"You're broke?"
Matty smiled.
"I may have overextended myself a little. But that is not why we are here."
Bill shook his head.
"How much do you owe?"
"Can we talk about this later?"
Bill shook his head.
"No. If we are doing this, I need you to have nothing on your mind but what we are doing."
Bill suddenly smiled and sat back.
"What am I saying. You have the money in your bank account."
Matty forced a smile.
"Not really."
"What?"
"Look can we stay on track here."
Bill opened his briefcase and put the documents back in.
"What are you doing?"
Bill looked back at Matty.
"We need to talk."
He stood and looked at the other three.
"We will talk again later. I need to talk to Matty right now."
John Dove stood up and shook Bill's hand.
"Bill, me son. Like 'enry be sayin' earlier, wes all is 'appy dat youse is tinkin' 'bout 'elpin' us out 'ere in da Bay, but truth be known, many of da younger peoples 'ere don't bes tinkin' da way wes do."
"How's that?"
Joyce spoke up.
"Its bes like dis, mainlander. Da young ones can't afford to bes waitin'. Dey 'as to bes lookin' out fer dere families."
She looked at Matty.
"Many of dey will bes leavin' in da spring."
Matty jumped to her feet.
"No. No. We still have time."
Mayor Tucker shook his head.
"Lessen youse 'as a miracle up yer sleeve, Matty, dis bes over.
Peoples can't bes waitin' fer youse anymore. Dey 'ave to live, 'specially da young ones wit families.
Wes loves you, Matty, but it bes time fer youse to stop all dis."
Matty took a deep breath, as tears began filling her eyes.
She tried to speak, but the words never came.
She turned and quickly left the room.
"Matty?" Bill called to her, but she was gone.
"Let 'er 'ave some time," Mayor Tucker suggested.
Bill turned back to the three in the room.
"Now what?"
Mayor Tucker shrugged.
"Life goes on, Bill. Dat bes what wes been tellin' Matty fer a long time. She's bes needin' to go and start a real life."
Bill sat back on the chair, putting his briefcase on the floor beside him.
"Just how bad of a financial situation is Matty in?"
Joyce spoke up.
"Da 'ole Bay 'as been 'elpin' 'er out. She's pretty much lost everyting, including 'er law office in Corner Brook. She 'ad a few bucks when Nanny Dove died and dat bes gone too."
"Me and 'arry co-signed a couple loans fer 'er and wes bes payin' the loans fer 'er."
"How much?"
"'bout two 'undred grand."
"What the fuck." Bill sat back in the chair.
"Ise knows she be gittin' some money from youse," Mayor Tucker added.
"But dat bes jest enuf to pay off 'er loans. She stills bes broke and she bes owin' da General Store 'bout five t'ousand dollars."
"And most of us 'ere in da Bay 'ave loaned 'er money," John added.
"So youse see," Mayor Tucker continued, "dat bes why wes wants Matty to stop. To give dis ting up and gits on wit 'er life."
"But what about Tuckamore Bay?"
John put his hand on Bill's arm.
"Dere bes a few of us dat be stayin' no matter what. Wes can survive wit'out 'lectricity and such. dats why dey invented generators, wood stoves, oil lamps and snowmobiles. Wes will bes okay."
"So how many are staying?"
John shrugged.
"Not fer sure, but rite now 'bout tin or twelve of us."
"So you are willing to stay here, even without all the modern conveniences?"
"Youse mainlanders bes too used to 'avin' it all. Wese 'ere at da Bay bes used to 'avin' it 'ard at times. Wes will do okay."
Bill smiled at Joyce.
"Believe me, I have not had it easy. Right now it might look that way, but believe me, it is not that way."
Bill took a deep breath.
"Can I ask a favor of the three of you?"
"Ask away."
Bill opened his briefcase and took out a chequebook.
"Can you get me a list of everyone that Matty owes money to and how much and I will pay them."
He looked at Mayor Henry, as he passed a cheque to him.
"Is this enough to cover Matty's loans?"
"Dis bes more den nuff, but Ise can't accept dis."
"Well you either accept or I find out where the loan is and pay it off anyway, so please just accept it and if it is too much, then pay off Matty's bill at the store."
Mayor Tucker nodded, as he put the cheque in the top drawer of the desk.
"Youse bes a gud man, Bill Willams. Ise will pay off da loan soon as Ise goes to da bank."
"Now what about the rest of the people at the Bay?"
John shook his head.
"Don't bes worryin' 'bout dat, Bill. It not bes a lots of money and besides," he started laughing, "remember dat youse bought us all beer and smokes and steaks and all kinds of stuff.
Ise tinks wes can call it even fer now."
"So, mainlander?" Joyce wondered.
"What bes youse gonna do now?"
"I honestly don't know. I need to talk to Matty and I guess we will take it from there."
Bill put the chequebook back in the briefcase and closed it. He then stood up.
"I just guess this will be an interesting year or so."
Mayor Tucker stood up.
"No matters what, Bill, I'd like to bes thankin' youse."
"For what? I haven't done anything."
The Mayor smiled.
"Youse done more den youse mite tink, me son."
Bill nodded to the three and left.
Outside the building, he lit a cigarette and looked out toward the ocean.
He heard a seagull screech.
He looked up and smiled.
"Stop laughing at me."