Bill walked through the back entrance of Dove's Pub, where he was met by Randi.
"You look amazing," Bill smiled.
Randi was dressed in a fitted tuxedo, that matched the one that Bill was wearing. Her longer hair was tied in a long pony tail and hung down her back.
She walked to Bill and straightened his bow tie.
"You don't look bad yourself, asshole."
Randi stood back and looked at him.
"Yea, you will pass."
She opened her arms and gave Bill a huge hug.
"I love you."
She kissed Bill gently, on the lips and wiped the slight tinge of lipstick off his lips.
Bill saw a tear in her eye.
"I love you. Thank you so much for being here."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
She looked at the curtain, that was drawn on the small stage.
"Sounds like quite a crowd out there."
"The whole village and more besides," Bill laughed.
"You mean all the spirits that haunt this place?"
"You know?"
Randi picked some lint off Bill's shoulder.
"Val figured that I needed to meet her ancestors, if I was to be a part of this family. Freaked me out a bit at first, but you get used to it, don't you?"
Bill shook his head.
"Nope. But you will get to realize that they are harmless. Irritating at times, but harmless. They actually look out for the village and they are the best security system that I have ever seen."
"You nervous?"
Bill shook his head again.
"No. Actually, I feel pretty calm. After all, I am marrying the most beautiful woman in the world.
Never thought this day would come, but here it is."
He kissed Randi quickly, on the lips.
"And I am so glad you are here to share it with me."
~~~
Jojo stood outside the bathroom door.
"Matty? Is youse okay?"
She heard the toilet flush and then the sink turn on. Moments later Matty opened the door.
"You look like shit."
Matty forced a smile.
"Thank you Jojo. I love you too."
Nanny Dove stared at her granddaughter.
"Is youse eatin' Willam's cooking again? 'e not bes da best cook."
Matty shook her head.
"Nope. Not that." She rubbed her belly and let out a long sigh.
"I'm okay now."
Her eyes suddenly opened wide and she ran back into the bathroom. Those outside heard her throwing up.
"Just nerves," Jojo assured the other women.
Lindsay walked to Jojo's side.
"Not like Matty to be nervous. Dere bes someting else wrong."
"I'm okay," Matty yelled from inside the bathroom.
"Feel a lot better now. Just give me a few minutes."
"Gettin' close to dat time, hun," Jojo reminded her.
"I don't think they will start without me," Matty laughed.
"Just give me a few minutes."
It was nearly ten minutes later, that Matty walked out of the bathroom. Her face had its colour back and she had a huge smile on her face.
"Were youse smokin' someting in dere?" Jojo wondered.
Matty took a deep breath and wiped her eyes.
"No."
She held out a pregnancy test.
"I'm gonna have a baby."
The scream echoed through the house and outside, scaring Jarge and Mabel, who flew from their nest and to the veranda, staring inside.
They watched as the four women hugged each other.
"Come on," Jojo urged.
"Let's get you dressed and get you married off."
~~~
Bill looked at the time on his cellphone.
"They're late."
Randi rolled her eyes.
"They are five minutes late."
Judge Rolands walked to Bill.
"Is everything okay?"
"As far as I know," Bill said.
"Haven't got a Dear John call from Matty."
Carl Pike walked backstage.
"Youse looks like a giant penguin," he joked.
"Glad Ise not 'ave to wear dat."
Bill looked at Carl's sports coat, jeans and open dress shirt.
"You look a lot more comfortable than I do."
Carl slapped Bill's shoulder.
"Anyways. Da women bes 'ere. Time to get dis goin'."
Bill looked at Randi.
"Bet Matty's eyes will pop out when she sees us."
"Why?"
"She doesn't know about the tux. We were gonna keep it simple, but I thought I would surprise her."
Carl started laughing.
"Yea. Dat bes it. Matty gonna be real surprised."
He quickly hugged Bill.
"Congrats, boss. Its bes time."
Bill and Randi walked out on the stage, to join Judge Rolands.
Immediately, everyone in the Pub were on their feet, clapping and whistling.
Suddenly, from the front of the Pub, the sound of a air horn cut through the din.
"Quieten down," Lindsay yelled.
She looked toward the front door, as the sound of the Wedding March echoed through the Pub.
Bill's heart skipped a beat, as he saw Matty walk in the Pub, behind Jojo.
She was dressed in a simple, but beautiful, floor length wedding dress, with a tiara on her head and her long red hair cascading over her shoulders. She carried a bouquet of red and amber roses, garnished with baby's breath.
Bill could not take his eyes off her.
Moments later, Matty stood by Bill's side. She passed her bouquet to Jojo and turned to Bill, taking his hands.
"I love you," she whispered.
"Shall we begin?"
Bill and Matty nodded to theJudge.
"Please be seated," Judge Rolands told those gathered.
A moment later, he began.
"We are all gathered here today, to witness the union of this man, Bill Williams, and this woman, Matilda Dove, in the bonds of matrimony.
The bride and groom have written their own vows."
The judge put the microphone stand near the two, so all could hear.
Matty took a deep breath.
"Bill. For the last two years I have devoted my life to saving my little village of Tuckamore Bay. I never realized that, when I met you, it would be you, who actually saved me.
I thought I knew love, but you made me realize that I didn't know love at all. From the moment I saw you, I knew, deep inside, that you were the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. You are my best friend, my biggest critic, my biggest supporter, my love, my lover and from this day forward, my forever.
Saying that I love you, doesn't even begin to describe the emotions that you bring out in me. You challenge me every day to better myself and I never want that challenge to end.
Please accept these humble words, from this simple Bay girl. The simple Bay girl that willingly and openly gives you her heart, forever more."
Matty leaned forward and kissed Bill.
"I love you."
She stepped back wiping tears from her eyes.
Jojo stepped forward and gave her a silk hankie.
Judge Rolands looked at Bill.
"Your turn, Bill."
Bill thought for a moment, before speaking.
"Matty. I had this big speech prepared, but standing here, right now, I realize something. I can't remember a word of it," he laughed.
There was a spatter of laughter from the Pub.
Bill continued.
"But looking at you, right now, I realize one thing. Every time I see your face, every time I hear your voice and see that smile, I fall in love with you all over again. And I want that feeling to stay with me until the day I die.
You are my heart and soul. You took a lost man and you not only sold him a lighthouse, you gave him a home. You showed me what it meant to love and to be loved. And I know I have been a bit of an ass, at times, but it was only because I just couldn't grasp the feelings I was having.
Standing here, right now, I completely understand.
You are home. I am home.
Without you, I am just a boy. With you, I am a man. A man who is in love, with the most beautiful woman in the world.
My heart is yours, Matty. Please accept it."
Bill leaned forward and kissed Matty.
"I love you."
Bill looked at the Judge and nodded.
"Matilda Dove? Do you accept Bill's hand in marriage and accept this man as your husband?"
"I do."
Randi passed Bill the wedding ring and Bill put it on Matty's finger.
"Bill Williams? Do you accept Matilda's hand in marriage and accept this woman as your wife?"
"I do."
Jojo passed Matty the wedding ring and she put it on Bill's finger.
"By the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. Kiss your beautiful bride."
Bill and Matty kissed long and gentle, amid the yells and cheers and clapping of all those gathered.
Judge Rolands took the microphone.
"For the first time, I would like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Bill Williams."
Matty and Bill walked hand in hand off the stage and began the long walk to the front of the Pub, being congratulated by everyone there.
While they did, the stage was transformed into the wedding party's head table. It was nearly a half hour later, before Bill and Matty joined Jojo and her husband, Ken and Randi and Valerie, at the head table, along with Judge Rolands.
Randi took the microphone and picked up a laptop from the chair next to her.
"To start this all off, we have a couple very special guests, that want to congratulate the happy couple."
Randi put the laptop in front of Bill and Matty and turned it on. Immediately, all the televisions in the Pub showed a image of Premier Best and his wife Wendy.
"Hello, Bill and Matty and all the wonderful people of Tuckamore Bay.
Bill. Matty. Wendy and I want to send you our heartfelt congratulations on this special day for both of you. Unfortunately, we could not be there to celebrate with you, as previous commitments would not allow this, but be assured that our hearts are there with you and we are both so happy to see you two finally married."
Wendy continued.
"Matty. You look absolutely stunning and Bill, handsome, as always. I wish I could be there to hug both of you, but instead I am stuck in Ottawa, on official business.
But know this. We have already booked in our time, so that we can join you and Bill and all the people of the Bay on New Year's Eve, so that we can all share in that special moment, at 12:01 when Tuckamore Bay becomes that special entity, that it deserves.
Daniel and I love both of you and we can't wait to be with you again and once again share some special time with you."
She blew a kiss to Bill and Matty and they both did the same.
"Now," Daniel continued, "go and enjoy this special moment. We wish we could be there, but we have a boring dinner event to attend.
We love you both."
As Daniel and Wendy waved, the image faded.
Randi took the laptop and passed it to Lindsay.
"Okay. First off, I would like to toast the newlyweds. Please, everyone, raise your glasses."
The entire Pub stood and raised their glasses.
Randi turned to the couple.
"Bill. If anyone had told me a couple years ago, that I would be toasting you, at your wedding, I would have laughed hysterically. I was sure that you were gonna be one of those old men who lived in a one room apartment, sitting on the edge of his bed, eating cat food, from an open tin and watching porn."
Laughter filled the Pub.
"But here I am. There is not a cat in sight and I am toasting the one man in the world, that I can honestly say, I love. You can be an asshole, but fuck, I do love you.
And Matty. Like I have said before, if you ever decide to change teams, well you know."
Randi looked at Valerie.
"Just kidding my love."
Randi turned to the Pub, raising her glass in the air.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls and even seagulls. Please join me in toasting Bill and Matty. May their marriage be long and prosperous, with at least a dozen kids.
To Bill and Matty."
"Bill and Matty," all those in the Pub said in unison.
Randi drank her champagne and passed the microphone to Jojo. She walked around the table and kissed both Bill and Matty and sat next to Bill.
Jojo looked out over the crowd.
"Okay. Youse all knows Ise not one for dis speaking' in public, unless Ise barkin' at Kenny or one of da kids."
There was laughter, as Jojo turned to Bill and Matty.
"ise knowed Matty since wese were both knee high to a grasshopper. Wese been best friends all our lives and at dis moment, Ise never been happier for anyone. Like Randi said 'bout Bill, Ise gots to say 'bout Matty. Ise pictured 'er in dat lighthouse, wit a dozen cats and Nanny Dove bitchin' at 'er. Not dat she wouldn't anyways.
Now, ise looks at this angel in a white and I see a woman in love. Its been a long time comin', Matty but Ise tinks da wait were worth it. Bill is a wonderful man and wese all knows dat 'e loves youse and 'e always will.
Or youse will probably beat da shit out of 'e. No one fucks wit Matty da Mangler."
Cheers and laughter erupted from the Pub.
Jojo turned to the Pub.
"Tuckamore Bay. raise your glasses to Matty and Bill. May their marriage last forever."
The entire Pub drank again and Jojo walked back to kiss Bill and Matty.
Matty took the microphone from Jojo and stood up.
"I have something else that I want to say."