Tanya Rideout put her hand over her cellphone, when she heard the knock on the door.
"Comes in. I'm on da phone."
She immediately went back to talking on the cellphone, as she heard the door open. She looked up quickly, to see Quinton Pike standing just inside the door of her cottage.
"Lets me calls you back later," Tanya smiled, as she ended the call.
"Quinton."
The young man blushed slightly.
"I gots your lunch here, Tanya."
"So you're deliverin' now fer da Pub?"
He shook his head.
"Just 'appened to be there and I told Val dat I wud brings it to you."
Tanya got up from her desk and walked to the small table, near the kitchenette.
"Brings it here, Quinton."
Quinton took off his boots and brought the meal to Tanya. He put it on the table and stood there, his coat still on.
Tanya noticed the second take out bag in his hand.
"I only ordered one," she smiled.
"I 'as one too," Quinton stammered.
"Was on my way back to da shop."
"Would you like to join me?"
Quinton blushed even brighter.
"I don't wants to be a burden, Tanya."
Tanya smiled.
"Takes off yer coat and sit, Quinton. Would you likes a beer?"
"Ah, sure."
He quickly took off his coat and sat at the table.
Tanya returned with two beer and some cutlery.
"Well, you gonna take it out of da bag, or eat it from in dere."
Quinton quickly took out the fish and chips and sat silently at the table.
"Now we eat," Tanya reminded him, as she sat.
She looked at the handsome young man and smiled.
"Quinton, just relax. Okay."
He smiled.
"Okay."
They ate in silence for a few minutes, until Tanya spoke.
"So. How's your training going?"
"Really gud. I been takin' online courses in the morning thru a college in Halifax. Its a virtual ting. The teacher says I'm doin' really well. I 'as to go to Halifax in February fer da hands on part of da course, so I can bes certified."
"Wow. How long will you be gone?"
"About a month or so."
Tanya stopped eating and looked at Quinton.
"You will be gone fer a whole month?"
Quinton's face grew sad.
"Yea. I 'as to go or I don't get me certification."
He took a deep breath.
"Ain't been away from da Bay fer that long, ever."
"Where will you stay?"
"Dere be a motel near the College. Mom booked me a room there, for da month. Its one of them rooms with a kitchen and such."
"So you 'as to cook fer yourself?" Tanya laughed.
Quinton nodded.
"I figures dere will bes a lot of takeout while I be there."
Tanya picked at her fish.
"So. A full month?"
Quinton nodded.
"Gonna bes lonely, 'specially on the weekends."
"Well, maybe you will make some friends dere. Go out fer a few beer and such."
Quinton shook his head.
"No. I will jest stay in me room and study. I really wants to do gud, so I can git fully certified. Then I wants to get more certifications.
Dad says ifin I gets enuf, I cud do pretty gud, as a mechanic and one day, I might even run da garage."
"That sounds wonderful Quinton."
Quinton lowered his head and stared at his food.
"I just wants you to bes proud of me, Tanya," he practically whispered.
Tanya looked at the young man and smiled.
"Quinton?"
He never looked up.
Tanya put her hand on his.
"Quinton?"
He looked up at her, blushing profusely.
"I am proud of you."
She squeezed his hand.
"Very proud."
"But you are such an important person 'ere in da Bay. I'm jest a mechanic."
Tanya let go of his hand.
"That don't makes no difference, Quinton."
"But. Well. I knows what da peoples says about us. That were connected.
But that bes the old way and you meets so many people and you are so ..."
He lowered his head again, his voice trailing away.
"Quinton?"
He never responded.
"I am what?"
Quinton looked up, tears in his eyes.
"You are so beautiful and I jest me."
Tanya smiled and wiped a tear from her eye.
"Quinton. I am da same Tanya that you grew up wit.
And I knows that da connection thing might bes old fashioned to them dat don't lives in da Bay, but we do."
She got up from her chair and walked to Quinton, crouching by his chair.
She took a deep breath and raised his head, so he could see her.
"We are connected. We 'as been from birth and we will 'til death."
She leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips.
"There only be one man for me and that bes you. So stop worryin'."
She kissed him again and stood up.
"Now, finish your lunch."
Quinton could not keep the smile from his face for the next ten minutes, as they ate in relative silence.
As he finished his beer, Quinton asked Tanya a question.
"I knows dat we never, well never in public, we ..."
Tanya rolled her eyes.
"Quinton. Just ask."
"Well da Christmas and New Years dances be comin' up. Wud you like ...
You knows."
"I would love to be your date fer the dances Quinton. Its be time that wese gets the old biddies of our backs, I thinks."
Quinton took a deep breath and stood up.
"Thank you, Tanya. I best bes gettin' back to work."
Tanya stood up and walked to him, kissing him again.
She stood back and looked at him.
"You can hug me, you knows."
Quinton put his arms around Tanya and kissed her gently.
"Wow."
She stared at him.
"Who you been practicin' on?"
She fixed the collar on his shirt.
Quinton blushed.
"Jest been waitin' a long time."
Tanya patted his chest.
"Me too."
Quinton picked up his coat and Tanya helped him put it on.
"Ah, wud you likes to come here fer supper. I cud makes some pork chops and scallop potatoes."
"You are too busy to bes doin' that," Quinton commented.
Tanya stared at Quinton.
"Lets says about six thirty?"
Quinton smiled ever bigger.
"Okay. I brings some wine ifin you wants."
Tanya nodded.
"A nice red, sweetie. Ask yer Mom. She will knows what to bring."
She kissed him quickly again.
"Now gits to work. I gots some calls to make and run to Tucker's to get some chops."
She opened the door for Quinton.
"See you later."
She watched as Quinton walked up the path to the cobblestone road.
She closed the door and turned to see a spirit standing in the room.
"Nanny Rideout?"
The spirit smiled.
"'ow bes you, tomcod?"
Tanya walked to her and hugged the spirit.
"Its been too long. Where's you been?"
"Well, hun. Youse been doin' jest fine lately. Ise bes watchin' youse."
"Why didn't you come and talks to me?"
Nanny Rideout sat at the kitchen table.
"Didn't needs to."
Tanya sat next to her.
"Why now?"
Nanny Rideout smiled.
"Because youse made da connection, tomcod. Youse and Quinton."
Tanya smiled.
"He is a wonderful man."
"Do youse loves 'im?"
"I 'as loved Quinton since wese were kids. Jest 'ad to wait til 'e growed up."
Tanya picked up her beer.
"Now 'e is."
She finished the beer and stood up.
"Now it bes time fer me and Quinton."
Nanny Rideout nodded.
"Dat it bes, tomcod. But youse be smart and youse do tings rite. Don't bes likes so many of da women of da Bay."
Tanya picked up the takeout containers from the table.
"Things bes different now Nanny."
She walked to the garbage can in the kitchenette.
"Besides. I gots too many things on me plate to bes tinkin' 'bout family yet. Right now, I jest wants to git to know the man, Quinton."
"Youse always were smart, tomcod. Youse gots a gud family."
"Thank youse, Nanny."
Tanya stopped and smiled.
"All of a sudden, I feels dif'frent."
"Youse feels like a woman now, tomcod. Dats bes what youse feelin'."
~~~
Quinton ran to the bar at Dove's Pub.
"Ain't youse supposed to bes at work?" Lindsay questioned when she saw her son.
"Yer Dad says youse never ate yer lunch dere."
Quinton smiled.
"I ate with Tanya, at 'er place."
Lindsay stopped and stared.
"Really?"
Quinton nodded.
"And nows I needs a gud red wine fer supper. Tanya's making us pork chops and scalloped potatoes."
Lindsay hurried around the bar and hugged her son.
"Finally."
She kissed Quinton on the top of the head.
"I am so happy."
"Okay Mom."
Quinton looked around the Pub, at the few men there.
"Mom," he whispered.
"Don't embarrass me."
"Sorry," Lindsay whispered.
She turned to the Pub.
"Quinton is 'aving supper wit Tanya," she yelled.
There were cheers and claps from those in the Pub.
"'bout time," Wike Rideout yelled.
"Been starting' to wonder 'bout youse and 'er. Time fer youse to be a man."
Billy Rideout slapped his brother across the back of the head.
"Dat bes my little girl youse talkin' 'bout."
Quinton shook his head.
"Thanks, Mom."
Lindsay kissed his forehead.
"I'm so happy."
Quinton laughed as he watched Billy slap Wike again.
"Youse can bes an ass'ole."
Wike got up and walked to the bar, dropping a twenty dollar bill on the bar.
"Dats what brothers does."
He walked to Quinton.
"Bes a gentleman."
He winked as he walked by Quinton.
"Jest bes careful," he whispered.
Billy slapped him in the head again and stared at Quinton.
"Dat bes my little girl. Remember dat."
"I will, Sir," Quinton gulped.
Billy smiled and slapped him on the back.
"Ise 'appy fer da two of youse."
He offered his hand to Quinton.
"Welcome to da family."
"Thank you Mr. Rideout."
Lindsay pushed her son.
"Youse best bes goin' to work. Ise will see youse at 'ome after work and Ise will 'ave some nice wine fer youse and Tanya."
"Thanks Mom."
Quinton kissed her cheek and ran out of the bar.
Lindsay let out a little squeal and ran into the kitchen, yelling, "Valllllllllllllllllllll."