Lindsay looked at her cellphone. A huge smile came to her face when she saw Tanya's name.

She picked up the cellphone from the coffee table and accepted the call. 

"Hows is my future daughter in law?"

Tanya giggled.

"I am fine, Mom. 

That still sounds funny.

Just giving a quick call to see 'ow things are going."

"Youse really want to talk 'bout this now? Aren't youse suppose to be spending time with Quinton?"

"Quinton is down in the bar, playing the VLTs and 'aving a beer."

Lindsay laughed.

"Watch him. 'e does have a bit of a compulsive personality."

"He's fine. Ise gave him a couple 'undred dollars. Told him that was all he was getting. Besides Ise needed the break. Ifin yuse knows what I means."

Lindsay laughed.

"I think Ise do."

"Anyway," Tanya continued, "I just wanted some time to call you and see 'ow things are going."

Lindsay took a deep breath.

"Well, Perry's been tryin' to get units for his crews, but so far no luck. The earliest we can get some is a week from now."

Tanya let out a long sigh.

"Wese can't wait another week. I don't want to lose that kind of time. It could set back our opening time for da summer."

"Well, whats else can wese do?"

Tanya went silent for a moment.

"Youse still there, love?"

"Yea."

Tanya gasped suddenly.

"Ise got an idea. What's about wese asks the people of the Bay to put the crews up. Just until wese can get the units in."

"Hmm," Lindsay moaned.

"Wese could do that. Ise not sure 'ow many would wants strangers in der 'ouses. Youse knows 'ow strange da Bay can bes toward strangers. And 'specially lately."

"But youse think dey might helps us out?"

"Ise sure wese could find enough peoples to agree. We could put some up in the motel, as well. Four to a room, ifin we has to."

"Let's try the rooming thing first. Send outs a TT and see what response youse gets. That way, wese can get the crews up in the Bay and working by Tuesday, at the latest. Then youse can ask them to works longer days for a while to get caught up, a little. Pay them the overtime. It will be worth it."

Lindsay laughed.

"I can do that, but why can't youse tell them? Youse and Quinton will bes back soon, right?"

"Well," Tanya giggled, "not exactly."

"Me and Quinton are gonna take a couple more days."

"So things are going good?"

"Things are wonderful, Linny, so stop worrying."

"I am so glad. Carl and Ise were a little concerned. Youse knows. Where Quinton is so young and ain't never had a girlfriend before. And youse knows, he ..."

Tanya laughed and cut Lindsay off.

"Okay. This conversation is over. Lets just leave it at, all is well."

"Okay. Well, or seriously well?"

"Seriously, Linny. Everything is perfect. We are having a great time."

Tanya's cellphone buzzed.

"Sec. Ise got a text from Quinton."

Tanya laughed.

"The shit."

"What?"

"He just won five hundred bucks on Swinging Bells. The lucky shit."

"Maybe you should get down to the bar and get your share, before he blows it all again," Lindsay suggested, jokingly.

"Naw. Let him have some fun. I tortured him for years. This is my way of saying, I'm sorry."

"I am sure dat Quinton forgives youse, love. Youse knows 'e loves youse all to pieces."

"I love him, too, Linny. More than I ever thought I could. The connection is real."

"Ise knows," Lindsay agreed.

"Remember, I went through it with Carl."

"Anywayyyyyyyyy.

So any other issues?"

"Look, stop worrying. All is well here. They bes still working on the motel. Your grandfather and John Dove are looking after things. Wese still 'as da crew from da Bay and wese got a few of the younger boys down there helping out, best they can.

Not going as fast as we would like, but still plugging along. Ise don't think we will fall dat far behind."

"That's great, Linny.

Okay. Well send out that TT and see what happens. Send me a quick text later and let me know what happened."

"I will, sweetie," Lindsay assured her.

"Now, go and have a beer with Quinton and make 'e pay.

And Tanya?"

"Yea."

"Loves you."

Tanya laughed slightly.

"Ise loves you too, Linny. Wese will talks soon."

Lindsay ended the call and looked at her husband, Carl.

"Looks like Tanya and Quinton are taking a couple more days."

"Good. Tanya could use da rest. She's works way too hard, fer such a young woman."

"I agree, but that has always been Tanya. That is why I am so glad that she and Quinton made the connection. He could use the guidance of a strong woman."

She laughed.

"Like youse did."

Carl shrugged.

"Well. Ise never complained, 'ave I?"

"No. Youse been a good man, fer sure. As long as youse toes the line."

Carl laughed.

"Ise always 'as."

"As youse should."

Lindsay's cellphone rang again.

"Now what?"

She looked at the display.

"Its Matty."

She accepted the call, putting it on speaker.

"Hey gorgeous."

"Linny, me love. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Jest 'avin' a beer with Carl."

"Hey Matty," Carl yelled out.

"Hey Carl. How's it going."

"Tryin' to watch da 'hockey game, but can't keep dat woman off da phone."

"Ignore da old man," Lindsay laughed.

"More important is, how are you and Bill?"

"We are perfect. We are having just the most amazing time. That is kinda why I am calling you."

"Anything wrong?"

"Fuck, no," Matty laughed.

"Just the opposite. We are having way too much of a good time."

"Oh," Lindsay gasped, jokingly.

"Yuse are going to Jamaica and get that condo, that Bill always talked 'bout."

"No. Not exactly. Buuuuuuuutttttt.

We are going to extend our cruise."

"Really?"

"Yea. Seriously, Linny. This is the most relaxed I have ever felt and Bill is like a changed man. He is so laid back and just letting himself go.

So we talked to the captain of the ship and he had his people set it up so that when we finish in Aruba, we will be transferring to another cruise ship and taking a ten day extension on the cruise, visiting some new destinations."

"That sounds amazing, love."

"So, Bill just wanted me to call you and make sure everything is okay back at the Bay. We have not had our cellphones on at all, since we left and we want to turn them off again.

It is just so nice not having to respond to issues."

Lindsay thought for a moment, looking at Carl

He simply shook his head.

"You still there, Linny?"

"Ise is."

"Something's wrong, isn't it?"

"Not at all," Carl laughed.

"Ise jest spilled me beer and Linny bes givin' me da evil eye."

Matty laughed.

"Give the man a bib, Linny."

"Ise will do that," Lindsay laughed.

"Anyway, sweetie. Youse has nothing to worry about. Everything 'ere is just perfect. No problems at all. Wouldn't even know you were gone."

"Well, I don't know if I like that," Matty pouted, jokingly.

"Seriously, I'm glad things are good. Wouldn't want you and Carl having too much shit to deal with."

"Carl and I are fine, but I do have a little news that I want to share with you."

"Really? What? Tell me."

Lindsay took a deep breath.

"Guess who has run away on a romantic weekend together?"

"You and Carl?"

"Fuck no," Carl laughed.

"Have you met Lindsay?"

Lindsay glared at her husband.

"And 'ave youse met my 'usband dat bes sleepin' on da couch."

"Okay you two, play nice," Matty laughed.

"At least Ise will get some sleep. Da old lady bes snoring lately, like a freight train," Carl laughed.

Lindsay glared at him and rolled her eyes.

"Guess 'e will bes sleepin' on da couch fer a while."

"Anyway, children. Who is gone on a romantic weekend?"

"Tanya and Quinton," Lindsay squeaked.

"Really?" Matty squealed.

"Are you serious?"

"Yea. Of course it was Tanya that 'ad to take control. She went to Quinton's job. Told Ken she was stealin' Quinton and away they went.

Tanya got a visit from her great-grandmother Rideout."

"Shit. Really? Nanny Rideout?"

"Yea."

Lindsay took a deep breath.

"And Tanya and Quinton have definitely made the connection."

"I am so happy, Linny, me love and you must be fucking ecstatic."

"What do youse think, Matty. Only been waiting for this forever."

"Well I am happy for you and Carl. And even more so for poor old Quinton. He has been pining away for Tanya for years."

Lindsay let out a long breath.

"Well that makes two of me kids dat will bes movin' out."

"Speaking of your kids, how are Val and Randi?"

"They are perfect. I have never seen Val so happy and Randi. Well she is a sweetheart. We just loves her."

"Good."

Matty took a deep breath.

"Well if all is good, then Bill and I will feel a whole lot better about taking the extra ten days."

"You two have a good time and don't worry about anything back here. Carl and I have everything under control."

"Linny bes right, Matty. Dere bes nothin' to worry about 'ere."

Carl shook his head.

"Thanks Linny. Bill and I loves you and Carl."

"We love youse too," Lindsay assured her.

"Now go. Have fun."

The two said goodbye and Lindsay put her cellphone back on the coffee table.

"You didn't tell her about the issues we are having."

Lindsay shook her head.

"No. They hired us to look after these issues and that is what wese gonna do."

"Fuck, they are going to shit when dey finds out dat Lamont guy broke into dere 'ouse and now dese other issues."

"We 'ave it under control, Carl. I don't thinks wese will 'ave to worry about dat Lamont guy anymore. 'e won't get near da Bay, without us knowin' and wese will 'ave crews on site again soon.

Which reminds me. Ise 'as to send that TT and see ifin wese can get people to take in dese newcomers."

Carl got up.

"Wese can takes a couple of da young women 'ere. Dey can stay in Val's room. And Val and Randi can takes a couple for a while, as well."

Lindsay nodded, as she sent out a TT to all the Bay.

"Wanna beer?" Carl asked, as he picked up the empties, from the coffee table.

"Yea," Lindsay nodded.

"Ise sendin' a text to Val, to tell 'er what youse and I are doin' and dat they will bes takin' in a couple of da young women."

Carl returned a moment later with beer for both of them.

Lindsay saw the look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Maybe you should've told Matty about the crews walking and dat Lamont guy?"

Lindsay shook her head, as she drank her beer.

"No. Let them have their vacation. They 'ave done enough. Its time dat wese here in the Bay, start payin' them back. And this is one way we are goin' to do it.

Me and youse are going to take on a lot more responsibility and takes even more pressure off them two."

Carl nodded.

"Ise jest 'opes we can does a good job. Its will bese a lot to live up to."

"Wese will do fine, my love.

We haves good people in place and in a couple days, everything will be back on track."

Lindsay took a deep, exaggerated, breath and blew it out.

"As long as nothing else rears its ugly head."

"Well, Ise will drinks to dat. The last ting wese needs is more shit 'itting da fan."

Lindsay laughed.

"Well, this is the Bay."

~~~~~

Matty found Bill in the casino, on the cruise ship. She passed him a beer.

"Any luck."

"For me? No. For the cruise ship? About a hundred dollars worth of luck."

He saw the look on Matty's face.

"Okay. What gives?"

Matty sat on the stool of the slot machine next to Bill.

"I don't know. Just something in Linny's voice."

"You concerned?"

Matty shook her head.

"No. I don't think so."

"We could go back."

"Fuck that."

Matty held out her hand.

"Money please."

Bill took a hundred dollar bill from his pocket and passed it to her.

"Don't play that machine. It sucks."

Matty smirked and put the hundred dollar bill in the machine and put it on maximum bet.

She sipped her drink as she pushed the button.

7 ... 7 ... 7.

The light on the top of her machine started to flash and a siren sounded.

Matty punched the air and screamed in delight ...

to the tune of $2500.