"Okay. If there is no more business to discuss, then I say we call this committee meeting to an end."
"If I may, Bill, Ise like to say something?"
Bill nodded.
"Of course, Linny. Go ahead."
"On behalf of Carl and me, I would like to say a hearty thank you, for having the confidence in us to give us the positions of VPs for Tuckamore Bay company. We both promise that we will do our very best to ensure that we continue the fine work that you have started and we also promise to take some of the pressure off youse.
Especially now."
Bill smiled.
"Why especially now?"
"Well, you are getting married this Saturday night and the whole Bay knows youse are tryin' for a baby."
Bill and Matty looked at each other.
"Spirit Express," they sighed in unison.
Both started laughing.
"There really aren't any secrets in the Bay, are there," Bill chuckled.
"Not in dis Bay," Wike laughed.
"Youse shud knows better den dat, Billy. And congrats. Wese all lookin' forward to da party."
Cindy slapped her husband in the shoulder.
"Dere bes no drinkin' fer youse at da wedding."
Wike looked shocked.
"And why does dat bes?"
"Youse bes da designated driver."
Wike stared at his wife.
"Ifin dat bes a joke, den its bes a bad one and ifin youse bes serious, den youse losin' yer mind, woman. Wese lives like a five minute walk from da Pub."
Cindy rolled her eyes.
"Just can't bes jokin' with youse at all."
Wike stood up.
"Not when its comes to me beer, missus. Now ifin wese bes finished, Ise gots to get back to work. Wese got tons to do."
He slapped his brother on the shoulder.
"Come on, me son, dat steel won't weld itself."
The meeting was adjourned and everyone left. Most returned to work, while Bill and Matty walked to the Pub with Lindsay.
"I want to thank you for hiring Randi."
Lindsay laughed at Bill.
"Well Ise couldn't very well say no to da boss' friend."
"How is she working out?"
"Actually, she is a joy to have around. She is always in a good mood and she has no troubles with da men at all. She keeps dem in line pretty good."
Lindsay stopped at looked at Bill and Matty.
"And Ise haven't seen Val this happy, in a long time."
She took a deep breath.
"Still gettin' used to dis whole lesbian thing, but, at the end of the day, all I want is for my Val to be happy and she seems to be happy with Randi."
"How's Carl making out with all this?"
Lindsay laughed.
"Its like he's got another son. Not saying that Randi is like a man, its just that she's into sports and snowmobiles and hunting and fishing and she can keep up with the men when it comes to drinking."
Bill nodded.
"That sounds like her."
Lindsay started walking again.
"Da only sad part is, Ise don't see as much of my little girl, as I used to. She spends most of her time with Randi."
"I could talk to her," Bill suggested.
"Don't do that," Lindsay shook her head.
"I has to get used to this, on my own. Ise do like Randi. She bes a sweetheart."
Matty put her arm around Lindsay's shoulder.
"Look at it this way, Linny. You haven't lost a daughter, you've gained another one."
"Well Quinton really likes her and Liam is just in love with her. Its just that all this is happening so fucking fast. I mean my whole life has been turned upside down, in less than a week."
Lindsay stopped at the door of Dove's Pub.
"But, I can't deny that I love seeing that sparkle back in Val's eyes. Ise just hopes dat Randi don't break her heart."
"Break whose heart?"
Lindsay jumped slightly, at the sound of Randi's voice. She had not noticed Randi open the door.
"Randi. You scared me. Didn't see you there."
"Hey Matty. Asshole."
Bill took Matty's hand.
"Come on. Let me buy you a drink."
He kissed Randi's cheek, as he passed her.
"Takes one to know one."
"Real mature, Billy."
Randi looked at Lindsay.
"Can we talk?"
"Sure, but you wanna get out of the cold? We could go inside."
Randi shook her head.
"No. let's go to my place. Well Bill's place and have a drink. I'm buying."
Ten minutes later, the two women were sitting on the couch, in the old section of Bill's house.
Randi had made them both rum and cokes.
Randi lit a cigarette.
"I know this is all new to you, Lindsay."
"Well, I only found out a couple weeks ago and I guess, somewhere deep in my heart, I hoped dat it were just a phase Val was going through. I kinda thought that one day she would come to me and introduce some young man to Carl and me and ..."
"And instead, you get me."
"Its not you, Randi. I think you are a wonderful woman."
"But like all mothers, no one is good enough for your little girl?"
Lindsay lit a cigarette and stared at Randi.
"Can I bes totally honest with youse? No bad feelings and such?"
Randi sat forward on the couch.
"Absolutely."
Lindsay thought for a moment.
"its not that you are a woman. I will admit, at times, when I think about Val and you together, it ..."
"Sickens you?" Randi suggested.
Lindsay shook her head.
"No. If I were totally honest, there are times that I wonder about it myself. I mean, I love my husband and I would never trade him for anyone, but I think everyone, especially women, wonder what it would be like to be with another woman."
Lindsay could feel her face flush.
"Is it getting hot here."
Lindsay got up quickly and headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
She leaned on the sink, taking deep breaths.
"Are you okay?"
Lindsay quickly turned on the cold water and soaked a facecloth.
"I'm okay. Be right out."
She wiped her face and the back of her neck. She looked at herself in the mirror.
"Calm down Lindsay."
She took a deep breath and walked back out into the living room.
"You okay?"
Lindsay nodded and smiled slightly, as she sat down.
"I will be."
"Look, if this is making you uncomfortable, we can talk some other time."
"No. Seriously, Ise okay."
Lindsay finished her drink and got back up, walking to the bar. She spoke, as she mixed another drink.
"The thought of you and Val together doesn't sicken me at all."
Lindsay walked back to the couch, sat and lit another cigarette. She stared at Randi.
"If the truth be known, I am actually a little jealous."
"Jealous? Why?"
"ise never told anyone this before, but when I were in highschool, there were a girl that I was attracted to. Carly White."
Lindsay took a mouthful of her drink and puffed her cigarette.
"It never amounted to much, but one time, I stayed at her house. We were working on a science project together and we were laying on her bed, talking and laughing and all of a sudden, Carly turned to me and kissed me quickly on the lips."
Lindsay smiled a sad smile, as she remembered the moment.
"I was a little shocked, at first, but Carly was so pretty. I moved closer to her and we kissed again. She gently pushed me on the bed and she laid on me, kissing me passionately.
Then her mother came in. She was bringing us milk and cookies. When she saw us, she screamed, dropped the tray she was carrying and started screaming.
Dad ended up coming to Deer Lake to get me and Carly's mother lost it with him. I expected to get hell, all the way back to the Bay, but Dad never said a thing.
When we got home, Dad told me to go to bed. I never slept that night. Every sound I heard, I thought it was Mom and Dad coming to give me fucking hell."
"And what happened?"
Lindsay shook her head.
"Nothing. The next morning at breakfast, all Dad said was I had nothing to be ashamed of. I was only human and humans often give into their emotions.
He said that I would figure it all out, as I got older."
"What about Carly?"
"Never saw her again. Her parents sent her to Corner Brook to stay with her uncle and finish school. I was sad, but not devastated. I took some shit from my schoolmates, but it just made me tougher and in the middle of all of it, Carl came to my rescue. He was a year younger than me, but he was tough as fuck."
Lindsay laughed slightly.
"After he kicked the shit out of a couple of bullies, people left me alone. I fell in love with him and I have been ever since."
"But there was always that something?"
Lindsay nodded, as she puffed her cigarette.
"Yea. That naggy what if. Youse knows what Ise means."
Randi nodded.
"I know. I want through the same thing. I denied the way I felt for years. I tried the boy thing. Even had sex a couple times, but it was so weird, so disgusting. maybe it was because they were my age and their idea of making love was wham, bam, thank you ma'am. No tenderness, no gentleness.
Women were different. It was like being with another version of me. There was never any question of what to do or how to do it. You just knew.
Unfortunately, my coming out cost me my family. They haven't talked to me in over a year. That's why it was so easy to come here. It hasn't worked out exactly as I planned, but in many ways, it is even better than I expected."
Randi took one of Lindsay's hands.
"I know you are concerned about Val. I know deep down you are afraid that I will do the same to her, as Danny did. But let me assure you that I will do all I can to make sure that doesn't happen.
I really like Val. I have from the second I laid eyes on her. She's tough, funny, sensitive and sexy as hell. She is everything that I want in a woman. I can't guarantee that we will always be together, but I have no intention of going anywhere. I have no where to go and besides, I love it here in the Bay. The people are amazing here and they have accepted me with open arms. And they don't look at me and Val like we are some kind of disease."
"Apparently, apart from me and Bill, my daughter being gay was the worst kept secret in the Bay. I think everyone is just happy she has someone."
Lindsay patted Randi's hand.
"And so am I. And I am glad it is you, Randi. My family thinks the world of you and I know that Val is head over heels for you."
"I feel the same way, Lindsay and I hope that down the road, we can have a special relationship as well. I know you and Carl are not my family, but I like to think that if Val and I stay together, we will be."
"I am sure we will, Randi."
Lindsay stood up.
"I best bes going back to the Pub. Ise supposed to be on duty."
Randi got up and walked to Lindsay.
"I won't hurt Val."
She kissed Lindsay quickly on the lips and hugged her tight.
"I promise."
The two broke the embrace when they heard someone behind them clear their throat.
"And just what do we have here?" Valerie wondered, as she walked to the two women.
She kissed her mother on the cheek.
"Are you joining our team?"
Lindsay laughed, as she put her coat on.
"No, my love. I just had a wonderful talk with your beautiful girlfriend."
She watched as Randi and Valerie kissed.
"And I am so happy, for both of you."
Valerie walked to her mother and hugged her.
"Thank you, Mommy. I love you."
"I love you."
Lindsay held out one arm to Randi, who joined the hug.
"Both of you."
She took a deep breath and broke the embrace.
"I best be going."
Lindsay blew them both a kiss and left.
Valerie kissed Randi.
"Wow. Seems like you and Mom really connected."
"We had a good talk. She's a cool Mom. I really like her."
Valerie kissed Randi again.
"Come on my love. Let's make some supper. I am starved."
She took Randi's hand.
"And I want a quiet night with the woman I love."
Randi stopped.
"What?"
"Sorry. It just kinda slipped out."
Randi smiled and put her hands on each side of Valerie's face.
"I love you too."
She kissed Valerie long and gentle and then took her hand.
"Come on. We can eat later."