Bill was sitting on the hill, smoking a cigarette, as Matty approached.
"Good morning."
Bill smiled as Matty sat by him, on the grass. He turned to her and kissed her gently on the lips.
"Morning."
"I brought you some coffee."
Matty opened the thermos she was carrying and poured coffee into two styrofoam cups. She passed one to Bill.
"Have you been here all night?
Nanny Dove said you wandered off somewhere. I wanted to come and look for you, but she said I would not be able to find you.
I started to get worried."
Bill put his arm around Matty's shoulder.
"I'm fine, Matty."
"Where were you?"
Bill laughed slightly.
"Believe it or not, I was visiting relatives."
"Where?"
Bill patted the ground behind Matty.
"Right here. Actually I believe you are sitting on my great-great-great-great-great-grandmother Elizabeth Williams. And I am sitting on her husband, Silas Williams."
"There were no Williams' that lived here in the Bay."
"Well Matty I hate to correct you, but this entire hill is the final resting place of nothing but Williams'."
Matty stared at Bill.
"Have you been doing drugs?"
"No, but I have been on quite a trip."
He stood up and offered his hand to Matty.
"Come on. There is a lot of work to do."
Bill started walking down the hill, but Matty stayed where she was.
Bill stopped and turned.
"You coming?"
"Bill. There were no Williams' that ever lived here. I have never heard anyone talk about them before."
Bill nodded.
"Then perhaps you should have a chat with him."
Matty turned to see the spirit of Silas Williams behind her.
"Hello."
Silas smiled.
"You must be Matilda's granddaughter."
"I am and you are?"
"My name is Silas Williams."
Matty turned to Bill.
"I'll see you at home," Bill told her, as he walked away.
When he reached the road, he turned to see Matty and Silas sitting on the grass, on Williams' Hill.
~~~~~
It was mid afternoon by the time that Matty returned to the lighthouse.
When she walked in the living room, she saw Nanny Dove talking to Tuckamore Bay's oldest resident, Linda Tucker.
Linda Tucker
"Where is Bill?"
"He's bes restin' child," Linda Tucker informed her. She patted the couch.
"Come, sit with Matilda and I."
Matty went to the small bar first and poured a large drink.
"Would you like one Linda?"
"I wud child, but de old stomach can't be takin' da 'ard stuff anymore."
She held up a beer.
"Ise be sipping' on dis."
Matty sat on the couch.
"Did you know that there were Williams' that were among the first families of the Bay?"
Linda nodded.
"My grandmother, she be a Williams, but da last man Williams left da Bay a long time ago. Ise were but a child when 'e did.
And 'e never comes back to da Bay, so for da last 75 year or so, dere bes no Williams' in da Bay, 'till now."
Matty lit a cigarette. She stared at Nanny Dove.
"Not a word old lady."
She looked back at Linda.
"I just had the most incredible talk with the spirit of Silas Williams."
Nanny Dove nodded.
"Ise felt dat the spirits of da hill were awake."
"You knew of them? Why wouldn't you tell me or better yet, tell Bill."
"Matty, dey bes old spirits. Dey 'ave been at rest fer a long time and even now, dey would not 'ave come awake, ifin dey did not 'ave to get Bill back on da right path."
"The right path?"
Nanny Dove stopped knitting and rocking and turned to Matty.
"Matty, youse knows dat Bill bes all mixed up in da 'ead."
"You make him sound like he is crazy."
"Not crazy, child, just confused," Linda continued.
"'e bes not sure what 'e shud do concernin' da Bay. You knows dat 'e were considerin' leavin' again?"
"A lot of that is my fault," Matty sighed.
"I just can't seem to get a grasp on my feelings."
Nanny Dove laughed.
"Youse knows exactly 'ow youse feels, Matty. Youse jest scared of dose feeling. Dats all dat bes wrong wit youse."
"Maybe."
"Truth is," Linda continued, "da only ting keepin' Bill 'ere is you, Matty. 'e told us earlier dat 'e wud 'ave been long gone, only fer you.
And fer da fact dat he does love da Bay."
"Now I feel guilty."
"Do youse love da boy?" Nanny Dove asked.
"I think I do."
She went back to knitting and rocking.
"Youse fuckin' knows dat youse do."
"Now Matilda, language."
"Youse a fine one to talk, Linda Tucker," Nanny Dove laughed.
"Ise tinks dat Bill 'as seen da light, as dey says," Linda continued.
"Ise tinks dat Silas 'as put his mind at ease 'bout da Bay."
"I hope so, Linda," Matty sighed.
"I don't think you will have to worry about that anymore."
The three women looked toward the bedroom, as Bill joined them.
Matty got to her feet and went to him, hugging him tightly and kissing him gently on the lips.
"Wow. Maybe I should go back in and come out again."
Nanny Dove grunted.
"Nuf of your forbidden sex acts."
"It was a kiss, old lady," Matty sputtered.
"Seriously old lady."
She looked at Bill.
"Want a drink?"
Bill shook his head.
"Not right yet. I an actually starved. Feel like I haven't eaten in a week."
"Go. Sit," Matty ordered.
"I will fry you up a nice steak, with baked potatoes."
"Sounds good to me."
Bill walked to the couch, saying hello to Nanny Dove and he gave Linda a quick kiss on the cheek.
Matty handed him a scotch.
"Sip on this while I make you lunch."
She looked at Linda.
"Would you like anything?"
Linda got to her feet.
"No child. It be time I bes movin' on. I 'as darts tonite and Ise needs to go to da Pub and t'row a few before wes starts.
Why don'ts youse and Bill join us later."
Bill got up and hugged Linda.
"We will. Would you like a ride to the Pub?"
"No, me son. Its bes a nice day and dere still be a few miles in dese old legs."
She kissed Bill's cheek.
"But it bes nice to 'ave you back 'ome Bill. Youse knows did be where youse belongs."
Bill walked the old woman to the front door.
"I do, Linda and thank you."
"Youse jest make yerself at 'ome 'ere in da Bay," Linda reminded him.
"And don't let dat crabby old nanny Dove git to youse," she whispered.
"I 'eard dat you fuckin' witch," Nanny Dove laughed.
"Love youse Matilda."
"Loves youse Linda. Good lucks tonite."
Bill said goodbye to Linda and walked back to the couch. He lit a cigarette and sat back, scotch in hand.
"So, Willam? What does youse do next?"
Matty walked to the entranceway of the living room and leaned against the wall.
"Yes, William. What's next?"
"Well first I have myself that delicious smelling steak and baked potatoes and then my beautiful girlfriend and I are going to the Pub to watch some darts and drink some beer."
Bill drew long on his cigarette.
"And tomorrow we begin Operation Save Tuckamore Bay."