"Fuck," Matty swore, as she opened her emails.
Bill held out a beer for her.
"What's wrong. Ex-boyfriend coming to town."
Matty spun around in the chair and stared at Bill.
"You're an asshole, you know."
She took the beer from him and spun back to the computer.
"I just got an email from the Department of Fisheries. I finally got my meeting."
"Well isn't that good news?"
"Yes, but it is at 10:00am, tomorrow morning. I haven't been able to stay online the last few days, long enough, to check my emails."
She looked at the clock on the wall.
"Its four in the afternoon now. I would have to drive all night just to get there. And then I will be in a wreck for the meeting. Fuck.
And if I blow this I surely will not get another."
"Go get packed. I will call the airport and see if there is a flight tonight and if there is, I will book it for us and a hotel as well."
Matty stood up and hugged Bill.
"There's no need for you to go, hun. By the time I get to St. John's and settled in the hotel, it will be late and I still have to get my papers in order for the meeting."
"Oh, okay," Bill sighed, a sad tinge to his voice.
Matty kissed Bill.
"Honey, you have that meeting with Henry in the morning and you still have to get in touch with Frank Pittman. And you have a meeting scheduled with Clayton at the fish plant."
She kissed him again.
"I can drive to Deer Lake, fly out, have my meeting in the morning and fly back tomorrow afternoon, after the meeting. I will be home again tomorrow night."
"You're right," Bill smiled.
He kissed Matty quickly.
"Go. Let me make the calls."
"Thank you," she smiled as she hurried out of the house.
Nanny Dove grunted.
"What's with you?" Bill wondered, as he looked up the number for Westjet Airlines.
"Nuttin. Jest seems strange dat Matty didn't wants youse to go."
Bill shrugged as he wrote the number on a notepad, near the computer.
"Doesn't seem strange to me. What she said made perfect sense."
"Okay."
Bill ignored Nanny Dove and called the number. He got Matty booked on a flight for 7 o'clock, which would give her plenty of time to drive to Deer Lake and he booked her at a nice hotel, near the government office for the Fisheries Department.
Matty returned to the house, about fifteen minutes later, with a small carry on bag.
"Its all set up," Bill informed her. "Your flight leaves in just over two hours."
"That's perfect."
Bill handed her a paper with the flight and hotel info.
"Call me when you get settled in the hotel."
"I will," Matty assured him.
Bill walked her to her car and kissed her one more time.
"Be careful."
"I will." And with that she drove off.
Bill watched until she was out of sight and then went back inside.
"Ise surprised youse let 'er go alone," Nanny Dove mentioned, as soon as Bill closed the door.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Nanny Dove shrugged.
"Ise don't knows. Maybe 'cause she bes a beautiful young woman, all alone id da big city, wit all the bright lights and such and all dem young mens after 'er."
Bill picked up his cigarettes off the desk and lit one.
"Seriously?"
"Well, Willam, youse 'eard da stories before, fer sure. And Ise don't like youse ..."
"My house old lady."
Bill picked up his beer and walked to the couch.
"You have been watching too many old movies," he laughed.
"Matty won't have time for much, other than the meeting."
"Whats 'bout after da meeting?"
"Then she flies back home."
Nanny Dove laughed.
"Okay, Willam. Ifin dat bes what youse tinks."
Bill shook his head.
"I trust Matty."
"Dat bes wonderful, Willam, but tink 'bout it. Youse two be barely a couple. Youse 'aven't even bumped uglies yet."
"What?" Bill half screamed.
"Bumped uglies?"
"Dat means sex, Willam."
"I know what it means, but no one says that anymore."
"Sure dey do, 'specially cool peoples like me."
Bill laughed.
"Matty and I are fine. We are just taking it slow."
"Snail pace, more likes it."
Bill stared at her for a moment.
"You are the one that is always complaining about me and Matty. Like you would ever be comfortable with us sleeping together, unless we were married."
"Well, maybe Ise tryin' to bes more cool 'bout tings. And youse young peoples bes doin' whatever youse wants, anyways."
Bill finished his beer and stood up.
"Matty and I are just fine. I trust her 100%."
Nanny Dove grunted.
"Okay, me son. It bes yer funeral. But ifin Ise were youse, I'd be gettin' a ring on dat girl's finger 'fore youse loses 'er."
Bill took a deep breath.
"I am going to the Pub to see Henry and get some supper."
"Best bes back fer Matty's call."
"I will be."
"Ifin she calls at all."
Bill turned around and faced Nanny Dove.
"You can be a pain in the ass you know?"
She laughed.
"Ise knows."
Nanny Dove
Bill walked into Dove's Pub and stood at the bar.
Yolanda Pike walked over to him.
"Hello handsome. How can I help youse?"
Yolanda Pike
Bill blushed slightly.
"A beer please."
Bill stared at the young woman for a second.
"Yolanda, right?"
She smiled, putting her hand on Bill's.
"That be right, handsome."
She looked toward the door.
"Matty be with you?"
Bill shook his head.
"She is gone to St. John's for the night and tomorrow. She has a meeting with the Fisheries Department."
Yolanda smiled.
"So. You bes here all alone."
She started walking away.
"Lucky me."
Bill took a deep breath and tried to calm down. He was not used to having a pretty young woman come on to him.
As he waited, another young woman walked into the bar and sat next to Bill.
"Well now, this is a treat."
Bill could feel the blush rising again.
"Where is your ball and chain?"
"She be gone to St. John's," Yolanda informed the newest arrival.
"Until tomorrow."
The second young woman purred and rubbed Bill's arm.
"Then we have him all to ourselves."
"Don't know if I feel like sharing, Val," Yolanda chirped.
"Think I want this one all to myself."
Valerie Pike
"Okay you two. Leave dat poor man alone," Lindsay Pike barked, as she came from the bar's kitchen.
She walked to the end of the bar where the three were gathered. She glared at Valerie.
"Hasn't your shift started?"
Valerie jumped off the barstool.
"Yes mommy dearest."
"And aren't you off?"
Yolanda kissed her aunt on the cheek.
"Yes auntie dearest."
Lindsay looked at Bill, shaking her head.
"Sorry about those two. They be 'armless. Dey just not used to 'avin' a handsome young man like yourself 'ere in da Bay."
Lindsay Pike
"Your old enuf to be his mother, auntie," Yolanda joked, as she walked by.
She kissed Bill on the cheek.
"Watch her, she's a real cougar."
Lindsay shook her head.
"Children."
She looked to the doorway.
"And Ise not be old enuf to be Bill's mother."
Bill laughed.
"This will take some getting used to."
"What will?"
"Having women ... you know ...
kinda ..."
Bill took a deep breath.
"Fuck."
Lindsay laughed.
"Bill. Youse are a nice looking man. I am sure youse are used to da women comin' on to youse."
Bill shook his head.
"Not at all. Makes me a little uncomfortable."
"Well Bill. Youse best be gettin' used to it. Dis bes a small place and we are all close to each other. Wes bes a touchy-feely kind of people and wes don't 'ide our feelings."
She put her hand on Bill's.
"So, good-looking, git used to it."
Bill picked up Lindsay's hand and kissed it.
"Thank you."
"Youse will bes okay."
She started to walk away, but turned back, remembering she had something to tell Bill.
"'enry called a little earlier. 'e said if Ise saw youse, to tell youse dat 'e be stuck in Corner Brook and won't be back 'til late tonight."
Bill nodded.
"That's okay. I have some things to do anyway.
Could I ask a favour?"
"Sure."
"Could you rustle me up a steak and baked potato?"
Lindsay amile.
"Sure."
She opened another beer and put an ashtray in front of Bill.
"Have a beer and smoke, while youse wait."
It was almost 11:00 that night before Matty phoned Bill.
"Sorry its so late, hun. I just finished getting all my shit together. I ordered room service and ate while I did."
"You sound tired."
"I am. And more than a little anxious."
"Why?"
"Well if I can't get an allocation for the plant then all of this is totally useless."
"I am sure you will be able to lay on the charm and get what you want."
Matty laughed.
"I don't know if you have noticed, Bill. I am not exactly the most charming woman alive."
"Well I think you are and so does Nanny Dove."
"What? Where did that come from?"
Bill took a breath.
"She was trying to convince me today that I should have went with you, because you are going to be attracted by the bright lights and all the men hitting on you."
Matty laughed heartily.
"Thank you, Nanny Dove. I needed a good laugh."
"I told her I trusted you 100%."
"As you should. I am not interested in finding a man."
"Well that just boosted my ego."
Matty laughed.
"I have my man and believe it or not, I adore him. I don't need anyone else."
"That makes me feel better."
"You aren't feeling insecure are you?"
"Well Matty, this is all new to me and we don't exactly have a normal relationship."
"Why? Because we haven't slept together?"
"No. That's not what I mean."
"Then what?"
"I don't know, Matty. I mean we don't go out on dates or really spend time alone together."
"We are always together, Bill."
"I know and I love that we are, but ..."
"Listen, you silly man. There is no one else for me. And I know we don't have a typical relationship, but I'm not your typical woman and you are not a typical man.
But I know that what we have is right and in time, everything will be as normal as normal will be with us.
Just remember, I love you."
Bill smiled.
"I love you too."
"Now," Matty sighed.
"It is late and I want to soak in the tub for a half hour and get a good night's sleep.
I will see you sometime tomorrow night."
"What time is your flight?"
"I haven't booked one yet. I asked the ticket agent about booking. She said there would be seats and besides, I don't know exactly what time I will be finished my meeting."
"That makes sense," Bill agreed.
"Well let me know when you know. If I am not home, just leave a message on the machine."
"I will."
Matty yawned.
"Talk to you tomorrow. Love you."
"Love you too. Night."
Bill hung up the telephone.
Nanny Dove stared at him.
"Not a word, old lady."
Bill took the laptop and some papers from the desk and went to his bedroom.
Jarge waddled behind him.
"Night Nanny Dove," Bill yelled as he closed the door.