Bill was pouring his second cup of coffee, when Matty walked into the kitchen. He had not even heard the bedroom door open.

"You a ninja or something?"

Matty shook her head

"Good morning to you too," she smiled, as she kissed him quickly on the lips, taking his coffee as she did so.

"I'll just get myself another coffee," Bill quipped, as he reached for another mug.

"Man up, princess," Matty laughed as she sipped the coffee.

Bill poured another coffee.

"Did you sleep well?"

"I did and I see that you finally got me into your bed."

Bill sipped his coffee and turned to her.

"Seems I did. Unfortunately, I wasn't there with you."

He kissed her quickly and walked past her into the living room.

Matty followed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was so tired. I really didn't mean to fall asleep on you.

But honestly, the last couple days have been so stressful."

Bill lit a cigarette.

"Well I can honestly say that you fell asleep on me. My shirt will attest to that."

"What do you mean?"

"You drooled all over my chest."

Matty started laughing.

"I did? I'm so sorry."

"Think nothing of it. You are so sexy when you sleep with your mouth wide open, drool dripping down your chin and to top it all off.

You snore."

"I do not," Matty protested.

"Oh yes you do," Bill laughed as he sat down on the couch.

"And very, very loudly, I might add. Even Nanny Dove left and went to the cottage to get some peace and quiet. And poor Jarge hid in the bathroom."

Bill drew on his cigarette and sipped his coffee.

"After last night, I don't know if I want to sleep with you. If the noise don't keep me awake, I just might drown in my sleep from your drools."

He faked a shiver.

"I am terrified of drowning."

Matty sat down on the couch next to Bill.

"Let me make it up to you."

She leaned forward to kiss Bill, but he put his hand between her mouth and hers, stopping her.

"Just a second." He passed her the box of facial tissues that was on the coffee table.

"Wipe your mouth first. You are dribbling a bit."

Matty took a handful of tissues and wiped her mouth, glaring at Bill all the time. When she finished sloppily wiping her mouth, she pushed the tissues in his face.

"Enjoy it. Thats the closest you will come to a kiss for the rest of the day."

She sat back on the couch, laughing.

Bill picked up the tissue gingerly, walked to the waste basket by the desk and dropped them in.

"Yuk."

Matty rolled her eyes.

"Such a baby. 

I am sorry for falling asleep on you though."

"Its okay," Bill sighed, as he sat back on the couch.

"So," Matty smirked, "how did I get to your bed?"

"I picked you up and carried you. You are not that heavy you know, though you could stand to lose a few pounds there, chubby."

Matty just stuck her tongue out at Bill.

"Fuck you."

"But I have to admire your conviction."

"How's that?"

"Even though you were sound asleep when I put you in bed and covered you up, you still managed to open your eyes long enough to give me a quick kiss."

"Well that was sweet, wasn't it?"

"It was, but you also said and I quote ...

'I'm still not sleeping with you' ...

end quote."

"Well you can't say that I'm not consistent.

And its not that I don't want to sleep with you ..."

"Its okay," Bill stopped her, not wanting the explanation again.

"Really?"

"Really."

He put out my cigarette.

"Besides, the drooling and such. Yuk."

He shivered slightly and jumped off the couch, hurrying to the kitchen.

"Want another coffee?"

"Sure."

Bill returned with the carafe and poured Matty a coffee. He then put the carafe on a folded dishcloth on the coffee table.

He lit another cigarette and passed the pack to Matty.

"So what is this great idea you have come up with?" she wondered, as she lit her cigarette.

"I was at the fish plant yesterday with Clayton and Henry."

Bill sat back on the couch.

"Clayton was informing me that even if we got the allotment for ground fish, it would probably cost as much as two million dollars to get the plant, wharf and boats up to snuff."

"And you don't want to spend that much money?"

Bill shook his head, as he sipped his coffee.

"Not if we don't have the fish to run the plant and at least break even."

"Well with the allotment we got that ain't gonna happen," Matty sighed.

"Fuckin' Hefford. If we can get one boat on the water, we will only get enough fish to basically supply the general store."

"That's what I was thinking," Bill agreed.

"And I kinda like the idea of the mussel farm, but I don't think we are there yet and it sure as hell is not a priority."

Matty shook her head, drawing on her cigarette.

"So the fish plant is a lost cause. Fuck."

"I don't think so. When I was there yesterday, Wike and Jr. were both there."

"Yea they are working on new gates for the cemetery. They really do great work."

"I was thinking the same thing. I am hiring them to finish the job and to put a metal decorative fence around the whole cemetery and a special monument for Williams' Hill. I want to recognize my ancestors."

"Okay. That's all fine and dandy, but what does that have to do with the fish plant?"

Bill sat forward.

"What if we take out all the machinery out of the plant. We can paint it up and display it around the plant area as a kind of monument to the fisheries."

Matty thought for a moment and then she remembered something.

"They did much the same thing in Twillingate. Put it all around the base of the cliffs."

"Exactly. I was online yesterday ..."

Matty cut him off.

"You managed to get online?"

Bill laughed.

"For about 30 minutes, or so. Of course I got kicked off at least ten times.

Fucking dial up really, really sucks."

Bill put out his cigarette.

"Anyway, I saw the pics from Twillingate and thought it was a cool idea. We could get some of the younger kids to do the painting as a summer project. Give them a chance to earn a few bucks."

"It sounds great, Bill, but what does that have to do with Wike, Jr. and the fish plant. You are really skirting the question here."

"What if we turned the plant into a welding shop? Not just any shop, but one that does decorative welding. You know, like the gate and decorative railings and maybe even sculptures that depict life here in Tuckamore Bay."

"And just how do we make money from that? I mean it sounds like a great idea, but I see a couple problems with it."

"Like what?" Bill wondered.

"Well, Wike and Jr. have jobs, really good jobs, in St. Anthony. The plant is not equipped with any welding gear, other than the couple machines there, that was used for repairs. And even they are old as the hills.

The building doesn't have proper ventilation. There is no machinery there, like saws and punches and grinders and cutters and basically everything. It is a fish plant, not a welding shop.

And how do we let people know about this wonderful new welding shop. The internet here sucks shit and the town doesn't have a website. We can't even get cell reception here. Its like we are out in the fuckin' sticks here."

Bill let out a long sigh.

"Well at least you have a positive attitude about all of this," he cracked, sarcastically.

Matty leaned forward and took Bill's hand.

"Don't get me wrong Bill. I think it is a great idea, a fantastic idea. But there are a thousand obstacles to overcome and we only have a year and a half."

"For what?"

"To save the Bay. If things don't get put in place, they will shut us down and believe me when I say; the government is not going to help us. Not one fucking bit. They don't give a shit about Tuckamore Bay.

We do this on our own or we don't do it at all."

"Isn't that why you wanted someone to buy the town? So that you could manipulate them into investing money into Tuckamore Bay," Bill reminded her.

Matty shook her head.

"Yes, but now that I know you. Now that I feel the way I do about you, I don't know ...

Bill, I don't want you spending your money to save a town that is already gone.

I couldn't do that to you."

Bill stared at Matty for a few moments.

"Matty, do you ever think that you will love me?"

"I do love you," she said, gently.

Bill shook his head.

"No. I mean really love me. With no doubts or restrictions?"

Matty simply nodded.

"Do you love Tuckamore Bay?"

"Its my home, Bill. Of course I do, but ..."

"No buts."

Bill stood up and walked to the desk. He picked up a stack of papers and passed them to Matty.

"What is this?"

"Look."

Matty read the cover letter. She looked up at Bill.

"Are you sure about this?"

Bill nodded.

"All I have to do is sign that."

Bill passed her a thick envelope.

"What is this?"

"Cheques for every resident of Tuckamore Bay. The adults get $10 thousand dollars each, while those under eighteen get the money in trust until they turn 18. Hopefully they will use the money for their education."

Bill took a deep breath.

"I believe that was the agreement, as per documents 201, 2 and 3?"

Matty stood up and kissed Bill long and gentle.

"Are you sure? I mean really sure."

"Henry is waiting to witness this. Once it is signed, Tuckamore Bay is mine and there is no way in hell that I am going to lose my home."

Matty kissed him again.

"I love you."

Bill kissed her quickly on the lips.

"I love you too. Now, let the manipulation begin."

They hurried to Tucker's General Store and the documents were signed.

Bill now owned Tuckamore Bay.