Matty reached down and took Bill's hand. She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes with the silk handkerchief Jojo had given her earlier.
"You okay, sweetie?" Bill asked, a concerned edge to his voice.
"I have never been better."
She squeezed Bill's hand and took another deep breath.
"The first time I saw this man, he was laying on his back, outside the kitchen window of the lighthouse."
Matty kissed Bill's hand and let go of it, as she continued.
"I had his sneaker, in my hand, because he near hit me in the head with it, when he threw it at, what he claimed was a mutant giant rat.
We, here in the Bay, call it a field mouse."
Laughter erupted through the Pub.
"But, you know what. Looking at him laying there, all I could think was, 'where have you been, all my life'.
I'm not saying it has all been great, but it sure as fuck has been interesting.
Bill almost had his tit bit off by Jarge. Instead of shooting the seagull, Bill adopts him. And even after Jarge ate my engagement ring," Matty pointed toward the bar.
"There he is, big as life and now he has a girlfriend."
Matty blew a kiss to the two seagulls, who were on the bar, watching her and eating fresh herring.
"Jarge is just one example of the huge heart that this man has."
Matty looked down at Bill, shaking her head.
"The biggest heart, I have ever seen.
He came here to buy a lighthouse and instead, he saves our little village. He is the most incredible man I have ever know another is no one the world I can imagine me spending my life with."
Matty took Bill's hand and helped him to his feet.
"Today is so special for me, for two reasons.
For one, I am marrying the man of my dreams."
Matty kissed Bill gently.
"I can't imagine life without him and that is why I am so thrilled for reason number two."
Matty stared at Bill for a moment.
"Sweetie. We're going to have a baby."
The Pub erupted with cheers and clapping, as Matty dropped the microphone, when Bill grabbed her and lifted her off her feet.
"A baby?"
Matty started sobbing.
"A baby."
Bill hugged her tight and kissed her over and over.
"You happy?"
Bill wiped tears from his eyes.
"I don't know what to say. I love you, so very much."
Bill and Matty kissed again and then turned and waved to those gathered in the Pub.
The cheers and clapping grew louder.
Randi picked up the microphone and stood by the couple, until the noise calmed down.
She hugged both of them.
"I am so happy for you two."
Matty hugged Randi tight.
"Thank you so much."
She stared at Randi and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Thank you."
"For what?" Randi wondered.
"Its sad in a way, but if things had not gone bad between you and Bill, I would never have met him."
"Yea. You would have. You two belong together and if all the shit had not happened, I would never have found this place and never met Val."
Randi hugged her again.
"So, it all worked out.
Now, both of you, sit."
Randi walked around to the front of the table, to speak to the entire Pub.
"Okay. Before we go any further, we have a special meal ready to be presented and I would like to thank Lindsay, Val, Landa and all the other men and women, who are now going to get up and serve this meal, including me."
"Jest a second dere, Red."
"Fuck," Randi jumped, as Nanny Dove appeared next to her.
"Bit jumpy dere ain't youse, Red?"
Randi took a deep breath.
"Still not used to having ghosts pop up next to me."
"Wese spirits, Red. Wese not bes ghosts. Now before all dese pigs here dig into da trough, Ise likes to say a few words."
Randi held the microphone in front of Nanny Dove's face.
"Red. Git dat contraption outta me face. Ise a spirit, maid. Ise don't needs anyting so dat people's can 'ear me."
"Isn't dat bes da truth."
Nanny Dove stared at one of the Spirits near Lindsay's table.
"Linny. Tell dat mudder of yours to be shuttin' 'er mouth, fer once."
Lindsay laughed.
"Youse on your own, Nanny Dove. Youse knows Mom listens to no one, especially me."
"Well, Bertha, youse keeps it down 'til Ise finishes and den me and youse can 'ave a little chat."
Nanny Dove turned, when she heard Matty call her name.
"You gonna say something there, old lady, or just keep people from eating."
"Youse tell 'er, Matty."
"Youse pipes down too, Bertha. This bes my wedding, so zip yer mouth."
Bertha laughed.
"Sorry Matty. But yer Nanny jest brings out da worst in me."
"Then keep yer worst inside," Matty barked.
She looked at Nanny Dove.
"Okay, old lady, the room is yours."
Nanny Dove looked out across the Pub.
"Dere were a time, not long ago, dat Ise thot gatherings like dis, were gonna bes a ting of da past. It were a dark time fer da Bay and even tho Matty did 'er best to save da Bay, it looked like da end of da Bay."
Nanny Dove walked through the table and stood behind Bill and Matty.
"And den, jest when it seemed dat da end were on us, along comes dis mainlander."
Nanny Dove looked down at Bill.
"ise weren't sure 'bout 'e, in da beginning, but Matty 'ere seemed to like 'e, so Ise thot, maybe give da mainlander a chance. It were da right choice. To peoples dat don't lives 'ere in da Bay, wese jest a little place dat no one wud miss, but wese all knows da difference to dat.
Wese knows dat to lose dis Bay would means we lose our 'istory. Da very being of what wese is. Da Bay wud 'ave truly been a ghost town."
There was a revered silence in the Pub, as Nanny Dove continued.
"But 'ere wese are. Not only bes wese not a ghost town, wese bes more prosperous den wese 'ave ever been in our long 'istory.
And our 'istory 'as comes back to visit us again."
Nanny Dove waved to Issac Dove, his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Silas Williams, standing near the bar.
"Dis bes a special time fer day Bay and da future looks even brighter den ever and wese 'ere, all of us 'ere, owes it all to one man. Da man Ise comes to love as me own son and on dis special day, Ise can truly call 'e dat.
My son.
Willam, Ise loves youse likes youse me own and Ise so 'appy dat youse and Matty 'as decided to stop livin' in sin and tie da knot. And Ise also 'appy dat youse spermy swimmy tings finally swimmed straight and Ise gonna 'ave a great-grand baby."
Nanny Dove kissed the top of Bill's head.
"Ise loves youse, mainlander."
Bill stood up and did his best to hug Nanny Dove and kissed her on the cheek.
"I love you too."
Nanny Dove patted his shoulder.
"Nows sit down. 'nough of dis wishy washy bullshit."
Bill sat down, amid the laughter, in the Pub.
Nanny Dove looked back out over the Pub.
"Nows. Ifin any of youse drunks 'as anyting left in yer glasses, Ise wants all of youse to git off yer fat asses.
And yes, Wike Rideout, dat means youse.
And raise yer glasses to the future of Tuckamore Bay.
Mr. and Mrs. Willam Williams."
The entire Pub stood and cheered the happy couple.
Matty and Bill kissed, amid the ever growing din.
Suddenly a new cheer started.
"Speech. Speech."
Finally Bill kissed Matty again and stood up.
Randi passed him the microphone.
Bill waited until the noise subsided.
"Okay."
Bill picked up a napkin and wiped his eyes.
"This is honestly the happiest day of my life. In all honesty, I ever thought this day would come for me. I lived in a city of over one million people, but had to come to a little village of less than two hundred, to find the true love of my life."
Bill looked down at Matty.
"Matty, I love you with all my heart and soul and this day has made me happy beyond even my own wildest dreams."
He bent down and kissed his wife. Again he wiped his eyes.
"Looking out over all of you gathered here, makes me realize one thing. Family doesn't mean people you are related to. Family simply means the people you love and care for and who love and care for you.
I don't see a room full of people. I see a room full of family. My family.
I love and care for each and everyone of you and I am so happy, no, I am honoured that each and every one of you could be here on this very special day."
Bill picked up his champagne glass.
"On behalf of me and my beautiful wife, I raise my glass to you, my family.
Thank you for sharing this day and we love each and every one of you."
Bill drank his champagne, amid another round of clapping and cheering.
"Okay," he yelled.
"Like Nanny Dove said, enough of this wishy washy bullshit. Let's eat."
One person from every table stood up and headed to the bar, where Randi, Val, Lindsay and Tanya were passing out plates of steak and lobster, while others brought baskets of fresh sliced bread and bowls of salad to each table.
Others brough bottles of red and white wine to the tables.
As the meals were delivered to the head table Judge Rolands moved to the seat, nest to Bill.
"Can I ask a question?"
Bill nodded.
"How did you do those holograms? They were so realistic."
Bill patted the Judge on the shoulder.
"One of the secrets of the Bay, Judge.
Enjoy your meal."
Matty patted Bill's hand.
"Nice save there, hubby."
She looked at the Judge, as he moved back to his chair.
"He still looks a little confused."
"He will be okay."
Bill kissed Matty quickly.
"I am starved."
Matty shook her head.
"Typical man. Now we're married, food comes first."
For the next hour, the Pub was alive with talking and toasts, as everyone enjoyed their meal. Every five minutes someone would start tapping their glasses and Bill and Matty would have to stand up and kiss.
Finally Bill had to ask the people to stop, because his food was getting cold.
It didn't work.
Once the meal was over, everyone worked together to move the tables closer together, so that a dance floor opened up, in front of the small stage.
When all was done, Randi once again spoke to those gathered.
"Well, it is time for the first dance for the new husband and wife.
Now, there are thousands of love songs out there that would suit these two just perfectly, but ...
but ...
when I asked the couple what song they wanted, they shocked me. But if you listen to the words, I guess it says it all.
So join me in welcoming Bill and Matty, to the dance floor, for their first dance as a couple and watch your tv screens for the video of this beautiful song."
Bill and Matty walked to the dance floor, as the video started.
For the next five minutes, the two held each other close and swayed to the music, singing softly to each other.
When it finished, everyone stood and clapped for the couple, as Bill hugged Matty tight, lifting her off the floor and spinning her around.
Randi took the microphone one last time.
"Okay, enough of this. This is the last time I am going to speak. I believe it is time to get this party started.
And who better to take care of business, than B ... T ... O."
The tv screens filled with the video and the dance floor filled with people.
Twenty minutes later, Bill and Matty returned to their seats.
"Well, Mrs. Williams? How are you feeling?"
"Like I am on cloud nine."
They sat and watched the festivities, holding hands. Bill sipped on a beer and Matty sipped non alcoholic champagne.
As the song ended and people stopped dancing, something strange happened.
Randi and Jojo walked to Bill and Matty and helped them to their feet.
"Well Matty, me love. Its been nice 'aving youse 'ere, but it nows bes time fer youse to go."
Matty gave Jojo a strange look.
"Go? Ah. Unless you have forgotten, this is my wedding."
Jojo nodded and walked to the curtain at the far end of the stage. She returned with a small suitcase.
"Dis bes fer youse and Bill. Youse can git changed in the room backstage."
"Changed for what?"
Jojo rolled her eyes.
"Trust me."
She passed Bill the suitcase.
"Now both of youse git."
"But we haven't even had wedding pics taken."
Randi laughed.
"We have been taking pics all night. Believe me we have hundreds of amazing shots."
She looked at Bill.
"Well, asshole. Get moving."
Bill took Matty's hand and started walking away.
"What is going on?"
"I have no idea."
Twenty minutes later, the two returned to the stage. Both were now wearing jeans and shirts.
The entire Pub applauded their return.
Matty walked to Jojo.
"What is going on?"
Jojo pointed to the front of the Pub.
Henry Tucker was sitting on the bar.
"Matty. Bill. Youse two 'as done so much fer da Bay. Dere really bes no ways wese can pays youse back, but wese 'opes dat dis gesture shows 'ow much wese all loves you."
A man dressed in a chauffeur suit walked to the stage.
"Mr. and Mrs. Williams. My name is Charles and I am here to take you to the airport, in Deer Lake, so that you can fly to Toronto and from there connect to a flight to Fort Lauderdale, where you will board the Regent Seven Seas Explorer for a 14 day cruise through the Caribbean. You will stay in their best state room and all amenities have been looked after. You will be treated like the royalty that the people of Tuckamore Bay, consider you.
This is their gift to you."
Matty started crying and leaned into her husband.
"Than you everyone," Bill forced through tears.
Randi hugged the two.
"Now get. We packed your luggage, as best we could and anything you are missing, you can buy it there."
Jojo hugged them as well.
"Now git. Both of youse."
It took the two almost fifteen minutes to get to the front door. They hurried outside and into the limo. Moments later, they were off.
Those who had followed them outside, waved until they were out of sight and then they hurried back into the warmth of the Pub.
As Bill and Matty shared a champagne in the limo, the people of the Bay partied.
A party that lasted into the wee hours of the night, long after Bill and Matty had transfered planes in Toronto.