It was almost midnight, by the time Bill bid goodnight to those at the Pub. Jarge and Mabel had long gone and as he walked home, Bill suddenly started to get a strange feeling in his stomach.  He was already feeling a little off all night, after his conversation with Matty earlier in the day. He heard something in her voice, but he was not sure what it was. But there was something.

And then the sad story of Maggie Dove.

Bill lit a cigarette as he walked around the side of the lighthouse to where the veranda was. As he turned the corner and stepped on the veranda, he saw a figure standing near the stairs leading down to the lower level, illuminated in the soft LED lights that lined the eave of the house.

"Nanny Dove"

Nanny Dover turned.

"'ello, Willam."

"Its strange seeing you out here."

Bill walked by Nanny Done to the small bar, built into the side of the house, near the barbecue.

"Dis used to be one of Samuel's fav'rite spots," she informed him, a sad tinge to her voice.

"'e wud come out 'ere at nites and 'ave his pipe, while lookin' out over da ocean. Matty wud play down dere by da water and Samuel wud keep barkin' at 'er to not goes near da water's edge or da tide wud drag 'er out to sea and she's never bes seen agin."

She turned to Bill.

"Funny ting, dat bes, as it were da sea dat took my Samuel."

Bill sat on a padded chair and sipped on a beer.

"They never found Samuel?"

Nanny Dove shook her head as she sat on the wooden bench that lined the veranda.

"No. Da men 'ere looked fer 'e fer a week or so, but never found a ting. 'e's dory washed up on da rocks but 'es body were never found. Dat bes why 'es not been 'ere now."

She let out a long sigh.

"Nots a day goes by dat Ise don't miss my Samuel."

Her knitting appeared in her hand.

"You want me to go and get your rocking chair from the living room?"

Nanny Dove shook her head and put her knitting by her side.

"No, Willam. Ise not bes in da mood to knit. Dere bes someting else on me mind."

Bill snuffed out his cigarette.

"You want to talk about it?"

Nanny Dove nodded.

"Willam, me son. Youse almost bes like family to me now. Almost likes da son Ise never 'ad. Ise told youse dat little story 'bout me Samual, 'cause I wants to reminds youse dat family bes everyting and above all else, in da ends, dat bes all youse gots. Family."

Bill nodded.

"If there is one thing, above all else, that the Bay has taught me, its the importance of family."

"Dat bes gud, Willam and youse got to remember dat all of us 'as a past and dere are tings dat sometimes wes don't always talks 'bout."

The sick feeling Bill had earlier was quickly returning.

"I feel like its me that you want to talk to."

Nanny Dove nodded.

"Yes, Willam. I 'as to talks to youse 'bout Matty."

Bill sat forward.

"This sounds serious."

Nanny Dove picked up her knitting again.

"'elps me relax," she sighed, as he started knitting.

"'as Matty ever talked to youse 'bout Cameron Penny?"

Bill shook his head.

"I've never heard that name before. I assume that he was someone from Matty's past. An ex-boyfriend, maybe?"

"Little more dan dat, me son. Cameron was engaged to Matty."

Bill could almost feel his heart stop as sharp pains hit his stomach. He stood up.

"I think I need something stronger than this beer."

He walked to the bar and poured a scotch.

"So. Matty was engaged before?"

"Kind of."

Bill walked back to his chair.

"How do you mean, kind of. She was either engaged or she wasn't."

"Well, dere never were a real engagement ring, jest one of dey promise rings, Ise tinks dey calls dem. But hey did live together fer a little while, when dey was in university together."

Bill's head was twirling.

"Why wouldn't Matty tell me about him?"

Nanny Dove shrugged.

"Ise guess she never felts its were important enuf."

"i think having a fiancé, once and living with him would be an important fact to tell the man that you planned to marry."

Nanny Dove nodded.

"Dat it bes, Willam, but Ise guess dat Matty figured dat she never bes seein' Cameron agin."

"Oh fuck," Bill swore, as he sat back in his chair.

"This is only getting better."

He lit another cigarette.

"So this Cameron has popped back on the scene?"

"Yes, Willam. Matty bes really worried 'bout 'ow youse gonna be takin' dis information, so dat bes why Ise talkin' to youse now. Kinda smoothin' over da waters. Ise were talkin' to Matty and she asked me to 'ave a chat to youse."

"How were you talking to Matty? You can use the cellphone now?"

Nanny Dove laughed slightly.

"No, me son. Matty and Ise 'as a special connection. Ise can talks to 'er in 'er sleep. In 'er dreams to bes more to da point. And she's bes real worried 'bout 'ow youse gonna take dis news."

Bill took a deep breath and thought for a moment.

"Youse not gonna storm off in yer truck agin, is youse? Goes to dat Jammy Maca place?"

Bill shook his head slowly.

"No. Not yet. But this kinda sheds a different light on some things that Matty told me. Especially since she actually lived with this man."

"Well, dat bes true, in one ways Ise guess, but dere bes more to da story den dat. And Ise tinks dat youse needs to 'ear da 'hole story 'fore youse starts gettin' da wrong ideas in yer 'ead."

Bill stood up and walked to the rail.

"Then why don't you tell me the story."

It was almost four in the morning, by the time Bill said good-night to Nanny Dove and crawled into bed. Sleep did not come easy, as Bill's mind was in turmoil. 

Finally, after about an hour, he decided that the best approach was to talk to Matty, in the morning and let her explain, although Nanny Dove had explained, in great detail, exactly what Matty and Cameron's relationship really was.

In some cases, way too much detail, but then that was Nanny Dove and Bill was sure that she still took some perverse enjoyment in torturing him, ever chance she got.

Bill's sleep was interrupted by an uneasy dream.

He was standing outside Dove's Pub. Inside, he could hear the chatter of what he was sure was the entire population of Tuckamore Bay. 

Bill tried the door to the Pub, but it was locked. A sign in the door's window read, 'CLOSED FOR PRIVATE FUNCTION'.

"What private function?" Bill wondered aloud. Why hadn't he heard about it? Not like their were any secrets in the Bay.

Bill walked away from the door and stood in front of one of the Pub's windows. Inside, he could see all the people of the Bay. They were all dressed up.

Near the bar, there was a small platform set up with an arbour of white flowers framing it. Henry Tucker was standing on the platform, holding a Bible. To his left was a man, dressed in a tuxedo. Bill could not make out his face.

Suddenly the wedding march started and all those in the Pub stood, blocking Bill's view. He tried the other window, but he could still not see who was getting married.

"Please be seated," he heard Henry Tucker say.

Once everyone sat down, Bill could see the platform again. There was now a woman, in a beautiful wedding dress, standing on the platform.

"Who is that?"

The man turned to the woman and pulled the veil off her face.

"Turn around," Bill snapped.

Slowly, the woman turned, to pass her bouquet to Joanne Johnstone. For a second, she looked to the window.

Bill's heart stopped.

It was Matty.

"No," Bill whispered.

Matty mouthed the words, "I'm sorry," and turned back, toward Henry Tucker.

"No. No."

Bill started pounding on the window.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. MATTY. NOOOOOOOOOOOO."

Matty never turned again. 

Someone closed the blinds to the windows and Bill was suddenly standing alone, outside the Pub.

Bill continued to pound on the windows for several minutes, before running back to the front door of the Pub.

He grabbed the door handle and pulled with all his might.

"MAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTYYYYYYY."

"Let 'er goes, Willam."

Bill turned to see Nanny Dove standing there.

"No. Never."

She put her hand on Bill's shoulder.

"She's bes married to Cameron now, Willam."

Bill continued to pull on the door.

"MAAATTTYYYYY."

"Wake up, Willam. She's bes gone."

Bill shook his head furiously.

"NOOOOOOOO."

"Wake up Willam.

Wake up Willam.

Wake up Willam.

Wake up Bill. Bill, wake up."

Bill bolted up in bed. His breathing was rapid and his body covered in sweat.

"MATTY," he yelled.

He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm right here, honey."

Bill turned.

"Matty?"