Julie Pittman stood on the small hill, looking out across Sandy Cove, watching the flurry of activity, as men and women worked on the new motel and the four fishing boats, upon the beach. Others worked on the multi levelled stairs that led from the motel, to the beach.
"It bes pretty doesn't it, missus?"
Julie jumped slightly, putting her hand to her chest.
"My God," she sighed.
"Ise sorry dat Ise scared youse. Didn't means to."
Julie turned to see John Dove walking toward her.
"You startled me, a little. I was just captivated by how beautiful it is here."
John walked to her side.
"Its be pretty, for sure."
He held out his hand.
"Ise bes John Dove."
Julie took his hand.
"Julie Pittman."
John smiled as he gently shook her hand.
"Youse must be Frank's woman."
Julie nodded.
"I am."
She let go John's hand.
"Frank is talking with Bill, so I decided to take a walk around. It is such a beautiful village."
John nodded.
"Its bes. I guess once wes sees it through someone else eyes, wes realizes jest 'ow pretty it is."
"So, this is where the new motel and restaurant is going to be?"
John nodded.
"Dat its bes."
He pointed to a young woman, talking with one of the men on site.
"Dat little girl dere bes da one dat designed dis and da rooms dat gonna bes in those boat over dere."
"She looks so young."
John nodded.
"She bes 18 or 19, Ise believes. She bes da tourist person fer da Bay and she's bes Bill and Matty's right hand woman."
Julie was impressed.
"She must be quite a young woman."
"Dat she's bes."
John laughed.
"She bes likes da other women 'ere in da Bay. Tough as nail, dey bes. And sharp as tacks."
Tanya Rideout walked up to John.
"Excuse me, John."
She passed him some drawings from a folder she was carrying.
"Can you give these changes to da boys on boats one and two. Ise wants to modify the bedrooms a little and I need them to get these drawings before dey goes to far."
John took the drawings.
"Sure ting boss," he smiled.
Tanya kissed John on the cheek.
"Youse is the boss, John, youse knows dat."
John nodded to Julie.
"Ise 'opes to sees youse later, Mrs. Pittman."
Tanya laughed slightly, as the two women watched John walk away.
"Ise thinks that Mr. Dove is smitten by youse, Mrs. Pittman."
Julie blushed slightly.
"Well ..."
"Just don't let Joyce finds out. She's can bes a real bitch at times."
Tanya offered her hand.
"Tanya Rideout and youse must bes Frank's wife. 'enry told me youse was 'ere with Frank."
Julie shook her hand.
"Frank told me there were no secrets here in the Bay."
Julie let go her hand.
"I am impressed by what is happening here. John tells me that this is your design."
Tanya shrugged.
"No biggie. Ise loved drawing since Ise was a little girl. This bes no more than drawings on a bigger scale."
She took a deep breath.
"But Ise 'as to admit dat at times, it bes a real pain in the ass."
She took out her cellphone and checked the time.
"Youse eaten?"
Julie shook her head.
"Not since breakfast."
"Youse like fish and chips?"
Julie nodded.
"One of my favourites."
Tanya took her arm.
"Well let me treat youse to Tuckamore Bay's famous fish and chips and of course a cold beer."
"Of course," Julie smiled, as she walked with Tanya. She immediately felt something that she had not felt for many years. She felt home.
After 40 years of marriage to Frank, life had become comfortable and predictable. It was not that she didn't love Frank, it was just that she wanted to feel alive again. Feel like she was experiencing life again, for the first time.
She looked at the young woman walking with her and realized that Tuckamore Bay could offer that to her. And to Frank.
Lindsay Pike said hello, as soon as they walked into Dove's Pub.
"Two house specials," Tanya smiled, "and two cold ones, please Linny."
Tanya led Julie to a table against the near wall and they sat. Tanya put the folder on an empty chair and took out a pack of cigarettes.
"You don't mind, do you?"
Julie shook her head.
"You can smoke here?"
Lindsay put the beers on the table.
"Dis bes Bill's village. Youse can pretty much do whatever Bill says. It bes private property."
Julie lit her cigarette.
"Thanks Linny. Put dis on my tab, will youse."
Lindsay nodded.
"Sure thing love. Youse fish will bes ready in twenty minutes or so."
She left and went back to the bar.
Julie saw a young man walking toward them.
"Go away Quinton," Tanya barked, not even looking.
The young man stopped and turned around.
Julie laughed.
"I think he has a crush on you."
Tanya laughed.
"Quinton has been in love with me since 'e was a kid."
"But?"
Tanya turned and looked at Quinton, who was at a table with his father, Carl.
She smiled.
"Ise thinks the world of him, actually. He bes Linny's son."
"So there is some spark there?"
"Maybe," Tanya smirked.
"But Ise can't let 'im know that. Not yet anyways. Ise bes way too busy, to be worrying about a boyfriend."
"What if he doesn't wait?"
Tanya laughed.
"Quinton will wait for me forever. We are connected."
Julie looked confused.
"Connected?"
Tanya drew on her cigarette.
"At birth. The ..."
She stopped and considered her words.
"How much do you know about the Bay, Julie?"
"Just what Frank has told me."
Tanya looked at the bar.
"Linny? 'ow much does Frank knows 'bout the Bay?"
Lindsay shook her head.
"Just the regular tings, Tanya."
"Am I missing something here?" Julie asked, intrigued.
Tanya snuffed out her cigarette.
"There bes a lot about the Bay that wes don't let outsiders knows 'bout."
"Like how you and that young man are connected?"
Tanya smiled, looking over at the table again. Quinton waved to her.
Tanya rolled her eyes and turned from him.
"Playing hard to get?"
Tanya held up her empty bottle.
"You want another."
Julie shook her head.
"Still nursing this one."
Tanya lit another cigarette.
"Quinton knows that we will be together. Ise just needs to torment 'e a little more yet."
Lindsay put the fresh beer on the table, picking up the empty.
"Courtesy of Quinton," she laughed.
"And stop tormentin' me poor son."
Tanya smiled.
"And youse didn't torment the shit out of poor Carl?"
Lindsay looked over at her husband.
"Only fer a couple year."
She started away.
"Ise will bring yer lunch."
She met her husband and son, as they were leaving. She kissed Carl quickly and hugged her son.
"Bye Tanya," Quinton waved, as he left the Pub.
Tanya waited, until he was at the door.
"Quinton?"
Quinton turned quickly, hearing Tanya's voice.
Tanya blew him a kiss and waved.
Quinton turned a dozen shades of red, as he left the Pub, with his father.
"Youse jest made 'is day," Lindsay laughed, as she put the fish and chips on the table.
She kissed Tanya on top of the head.
"Youse is gonna make a great daughter-in-law. Loves youse."
Tanya smiled.
"Loves youse too."
Julie sat, staring at Tanya.
"What?" Tanya wondered, smiling.
"What is it about this place?"
Tanya swallowed a mouthful of fish.
"Perfect, Linny," she called out.
She looked back at Julie.
"You feels something?"
"When I was out near Sandy Cove. Just this strange feeling came over me. I just felt ...
alive."
Tanya smiled.
"Youse got the connection."
Lindsay walked to their table, with a plate and a bottle of beer.
"Minds ifin Ise wins youse?"
Tanya pulled out an empty chair.
"Julie there had a connection. Out by the Cove."
Lindsay put her hand on Julie's.
"Welcome to the Bay, Julie. Youse bes family now."
She picked up her beer.
"To family."
The three women clinked their bottles.
"To family," they spoke in unison.