Bill put the documents on the table in front of him and looked across at Cindy and Joyce.
"Basically we are bleeding money right now."
He turned to Matty.
"At this rate we will blow through all our reserves in the next five years."
"Its not that bad, Bill," Cindy assured him.
"I knows right now it looks bad, but you has to keeps in mind dat youse 'as piled out a lots of money, wit da new upgrades and all da construction dat bes goin' on 'ere in da Bay. It will slows down, as we gits to da end."
Bill sat back in his chair and lit a cigarette.
"It seems like the end is never in sight."
Cindy smiled.
"Its will end, Bill. Jest have some faith."
Bill picked up the statement again from the table.
"At least the General Store and the Garage are holding their own and the Motel looks like it could be on the way to breaking even. The fab plant is struggling though."
Joyce laughed.
"And da Pub bes always in da black. Tank God wese 'as a bunch of drunks 'ere in da Bay."
Bill forced a smile, appreciative of Joyce's attempt to ease the situation.
"That is our biggest staff. We hired on more people because of that Tourism contract."
"Which I still haven't heard back from. I sent all the info they wanted and still, dead air."
"It is government, love. We will be okay, when we get that Tourism contract back," Matty reminded him.
"And the guys are really out there working on new contracts. They have picked up a few contracts in Corner Brook and in Grand Falls and they are looking at the possibility of getting a couple trucks and doing remote maintenance work. It will mean another investment in the plant of about $250 thousand dollars, but it could be a moneymaker quicker, if they hustle and one thing I know about our guys is they will hustle. They are not sitting at the plant. They are out there every day."
Bill nodded.
"How does Clayt feel about that?"
"He's a little skeptical, but the younger guys have connections and a couple of them are sure they can get back in, as contractors, with their former companies."
"And Daddy Clayt is old school," Cindy reminded Bill.
"Ise loves me father-in-law, but 'e can bes a bit stubborn and old fashioned at times. Youse mite 'ave to look at one of da younger men, in da near future."
"Ise 'as to agree with Cindy," Joyce nodded. "Even as far as me own 'usband goes, youse mite 'as to make a change Billy. To keeps us goin' into da future, it mites be in da best interest to start gettin' younger peoples in da rite positions."
Matty stared at Joyce.
"Are you getting soft, Joyce?"
"Fuck no. Jest lookin' at dis in the proper lite. Time for some of da old farts to retire and looks at different positions. Lets da young peoples works wit you and Billy."
"Dere bes a lot of peoples tinks da same," Cindy continued.
"Dis bes a new life fer da Bay and da Bay needs a new look. Daddy Clayt and some of da other old farts can still be used, as boat operators and guides and maybe even 'ave dem provide da entertainment for da tourists when dey comes 'ere, kinda like ambassadors. But ifin our businesses are to make money and 'elp da Bay survive, we needs a new, younger, leadership. More energy, more drive."
"I think the girls are right, hun. I guess it all comes down to how we want to look at this," Matty continued.
She squeezed Bill's hand.
"Do we want to make a shitload of money or keep the Bay alive. Or do both and continue to have the Bay expand."
"Youse and Matty 'as money put away fer yourselfs, don't youse?" Cindy asked, a concerned edge to her voice.
Matty nodded.
"We will be okay, no matter what, but our main concern is still the Bay and its continuation. If we need to invest more, we will."
Joyce shook her head.
"Wese 'as enuf money in da bank to keep da Bay goin' fer a few more years yet. Its like Matty says. 'ow does youse want da Bay run, Billy. Do youse wants to get yer money back or does youse jest want to 'ave a place to live.
"Does youse wants yer businesses to makes piles of money or ..."
Bill cut Joyce off.
"I think all three of you are right. I have actually been thinking the same thing myself. Ever since Henry told me he is stepping down as Mayor, I have started to look at this in a different light. I can see that we need fresh new ideas, if the Bay is to survive.
I am happy just to see our town in the black. I really don't expect to see all my money come back. And like Matty said, we will be okay, no matter what happens. I put that money into the Bay, as an investment and it is an investment that I am happy with, so far.
The way I look at that money, is that it is operating capital."
"But youse and Matty don't even draws a salary," Joyce reminded them.
"And youse pays fer everyting youse buys 'ere in da Bay."
"We are fine, Joyce. We will never spend the money we have."
"Dat makes no diff'rence, Billy," Cindy piped in.
"Youse both shud be drawing a salary, even ifin its jest bes a token salary."
"Its wud bes a write off fer da company," Joyce reminded him, "and at least da twos of youse wud be payin' taxes."
Bill chuckled.
"And what would you consider a token salary?"
"Well, da minimum wages bes $12.15 an hour and youse guys are available most all da times, so Ise wud does it dis way. Minimum wage times 12 'our a day, times six days a week. Dat bes about $875 a week times 52 weeks. Dat bes jest over $45 t'ousand a year, each."
Bill took a deep breath.
"Why don't you do what you think is right, Joyce. I trust you and Cindy to do the right thing for the Bay."
"We will," Joyce assured him.
"But wese still 'as da other ting to talks about."
She looked over at Cindy.
"Ise will talk to Johnny and why don'ts youse talks to Clayt."
She turned her attention to Bill.
"I will talk to 'arriette, too."
Matty shook her head.
"I don't think we need to take Harry out of his position."
"Ise tinks dat 'e still works at da store, but let 'arriette bes da boss. She deserves da chance. Ise don't tink dat 'arry or Mable will bes too upset over dat."
Matty took a deep breath.
"Fuck."
"Set up a meeting with all our managers, as soon as possible," Bill suggested.
"I want this looked after as soon as possible, if this is the direction we want to get going in."
He turned to Matty.
"What do you think, partner?"
"Fuck," Matty repeated.
"As if we don't have enough shit on our plate already."
"Well wese cud just talk to John and Daddy Clayt and see what dey says," Cindy suggested.
Matty nodded.
"Do that and let us know what they say, I don't want to be shaking the trees right now, with everything else that is going on."
"Youse two needs a vacation," Joyce suggested.
"I wish," Matty sighed.
"But right now is not the time. Just too fucking much going on."
"Well, Ise jest wants youse to knows dat no matter what youse and Billy decides, wes all trusts yer decisions. Even with dat proposal from dat Gail woman."
"Joyce," Cindy barked.
"Youse weren't s'pose to say anyting 'bout dat."
Matty smiled.
"Let me guess. Spirits again?"
Cindy shrugged.
"Youse knows 'ow nosey dey bes, Matty. Youse mite 'as to get Nanny Dove to 'as a talk with dey. Tell dey to mind dere own business."
"Like that would work," Matty sighed.
"All wes sayin," Joyce continued, "and dis comes from all us 'ere in da Bay. Wese trusts what youse decides to do."
"We haven't made any decisions yet," Matty informed them.
"We still have to talk to a few people."
"Deys all gonna says da same ting, Matty. Deys gonna leaves it all ups to youse."
Matty nodded, as she stood up.
"Thanks ladies. I am going to take my husband, drag him off somewhere where we can be alone and maybe share a bottle of wine."
"Youse do dat," Joyce suggested.
"Ise will gets youse both set up on payroll. Is youse gonna be on da benefits package."
Bill shook his head.
"Put us down as advisors or something. No benefits."
He stood up.
"Thank you Cindy and Joyce. You have both been very helpful."
As Bill and Matty walked away from the Village Center, where Joyce and Cindy's office was now located, they continued their discussion, as they walked hand in hand.
"Well partner, whet do you think?"
"I think we have a lot of shit to do in the next few days," Matty laughed.
Light me a cigarette, will you?"
Bill took out a pack of cigarettes and lit two, passing one to Matty.
"I think the girls are right. We need a more youthful approach to all this."
"But we need to be gentle with the older guys."
Bill nodded.
"I think we keep them on, until their replacements are in place and comfortable and then we basically let them do what they want to do. Let them pick their own jobs for the future. Might make the transition easier for them."
Matty squeezed Bill's hand.
"That is actually a pretty good idea. We won't touch their wages, for now. Let them find a niche that they are actually happy with."
Bill drew on his cigarette.
"I just didn't want to deal with this right now, especially with the Premier coming here tomorrow and Gail's father in town."
Matty stopped.
"Fuck. I forgot about him. He wants to meet with us at some point today. Gail phoned me just before we met with Cindy and Joyce. He had just gotten here. He spent last night in Deer Lake. Apparently had a meeting with Simon and fucking tore him a new asshole."
"Well there goes our sharing a bottle of wine," Bill laughed.
"We will have lots of time for that, my love," Matty laughed.
"Like when we are in our fucking sixties."
Bill shook his head.
"Well, why don't you get hold of Gail and her Dad and have them come to the house."
"Where you going?"
"Tucker's. We are out of smokes and I have no cigars. Harry said they should be in today."
"Okay. Can you also check with Mable and see if she is still up for helping me make jigs dinner tomorrow."
Bill kissed Matty quickly.
"See you at home."
"Don't get lost," Matty laughed ,"and no booking a trip to Jamaica. I know you have been looking at condos again," she laughed.
"Well they do have some good deals on right now," Bill laughed, as he walked away from Matty.