Sunday Sep 22

Trixie and Greg arrived on Saturday morning and Trixie, who travelled to the home with Bobbie when they were young, said it was weird not to have Bobbie’s grandma and housekeeper Sadie there. Bobbie was happy that they were able to get her grandpa’s old Beetlecat sailboat working. Johnny packed up the twin 40hp Evinrude outboard motors for the boat they could use for water-skiing, saying they were too expensive just to leave there and they needed servicing. Maybe they could water ski next year.

Everyone was bringing their stuff out. Kirby was wearing a pair of his new board shorts and his new hoodie. He hadn’t taken them off since they’d come out of the dryer. He looked like he belonged at the beach, on a surf board.

“You know Kirby the surf really comes up during fall storms maybe we can come back later and hang ten.”

“Uncle Johnny, I don’t even know what that means.”

“If we really got this place fixed up, we could rent it during the fall to surfers. I think they have a festival.”

Jamie shook his head. “I don’t think Mom wants to rent it out to anyone.”

“You’re right she’s been a little strange about it since Gramma died. I want to bring her down, maybe next week since we got it all clean. I’d like to get her used to the idea that it might have a second life with us.”

“The beach was so nice and the water was… maybe not warm but not freezing. I could stay her for the whole week.”

“Maybe next year Barb. There’s a little museum in town, it has some stuff about the house and my grandfather and I’d like to stop in before we leave.”

“I’d like to get a tee-shirt that advertises the Lost Shore. The Lost Shore is such a good description of the area,” said Jamie.

Bobbie decided when she came back with her mother, she’d get everyone Lost Shore tee shirts. It’s good to support the people that still lived here.

They pulled up to the little museum and Bobbie and Townes went in first. The interpreter squinted. “Bobbie McNally is that you?”

“Dan Keeler is that you?”

“It sure is. I haven’t seen you in years. I retired from teaching and moved back here a couple years ago. I used to help dad’s do historical research and decided to organize it all and use this place to talk about it. Mostly to anyone who’ll listen. There’s plenty about our family. Great grandpa started the pulp mill that built the town and then your grampa closed it and gave 6 families a great start in local business.

“Dan is our second cousin. Mom’s dad had 3 brothers, who are all gone. Mom was an only child and didn’t get along with, her uncle, Dan’s grampa.”

“We don’t have to dredge up all those old hurts, mostly everyone is dead who’d remember anyway. Bobbie, I know there was some bad blood between my grampa and yours too but we can put that aside, right.”

“Have you forgiven Mom for buying the homestead?”

“Of course. I could never afford to live there and keep it up. I was sad that I couldn’t buy it but it’s good that it’s still in the family. Maybe you’d take me for a visit sometime though, I haven’t been in there since I was a boy.”

“Alright, I’m sorry for being so touchy, I love this little museum, you’ve done a great job. Is this the map of original property grants for the area?”

“Yes, these are all the grants for the soldiers that fought with Britain in the American war of independence.”

Townes looked over the map. “Some have German names, were they Hessian?”

“Yes, Keeler is my mom’s maiden name and it is an anglicised version of Khüler. The Hessians were awarded land grants for fighting with the British. The United Empire Loyalists settled here too. There is also a community of free slaves who came up here to settle. There are Scottish settlers too. And of course, the indigenous population was already here.”

“Cool did your family change their name during the WW2?”

“No, it got changed during a census in the 1840’s”

“So, the family has been here since the 1770’s”

“That’s right and the homestead is over 150 years old.”

“It’s nice to learn about this Bobbie. I understand how tied you are to the area now. It is really so beautiful; I wonder why there is so little development.”

“It was mostly a fishing community and that was destroyed by an oil spill in in the 1970’s. the economy really sagged then. Grampa didn’t shut down the mill until the 1980’s though. I guess that was the death blow.”

“A blow from a velvet fist though. He did right by his employees.” Dan pointed to a poster. “When your grampa closed the mill, he had 6 men still working for him. He gave them a severance package that was really good for the time. He paid them each 25,000 dollars. Two of the guys just retired but four, used the money to start up their own businesses.”

Johnny was standing by the door. “Ed Green opened the car mechanic shop that I worked at and eventually bought, in Crow Harbour.”

“That’s Right. And what is your name and do you still own that business. I’m Dan Keeler.”

“I’m Johnny Gold and I sold it to Joe Burgher. He worked with me for years.”

“Thanks, I’ll add your names to the research. One gentleman named Skip Dolan started a ship chandlery and hardware store and it’s still in his family. Another Started a family restaurant called the Treat Shop and finally one guy bought 2 cars and started a cab company. I think his son just retired and sold his fleet of cars.”

“That’s a nice poster Dan, can I get you’re contact information, Mom and I may be coming down next week and I’ll call you.”

Townes was quiet on the ride home and Bobbie wondered if he was feeling neglected. Maybe she was too concerned with her own life now that she was re-connecting with so many people. Did she really want a new relationship? “You were pretty quiet this weekend.”

Townes opened one eye. “I had a great time learning to sail and listening to Johnny and Jamie playing on Saturday night. How come you didn’t join in?”

“I just wanted to talk to Trixie and Barb and try to get to know Johnny’s sister.”

“This was a quiet weekend but I really enjoyed it. You really don’t know what my life used to be.”

“I’m sorry Townes. You don’t talk much about yourself and I just share everything and expect you to tag along. Am I being selfish?”

“Don’t worry. I’m able to speak up if I don’t want to join you. And I expect you would do the same with me. Is that what this is? You don’t want me to “tag along” with you? Do you think we are together too much?”

“Do you think we spend too much time with my friends and family?”

People in the bus had stopped talking and were listening to them. Bobbie lowered her voice. “I love having you with me. I’m just worried that I’m not paying you enough attention.”

“We started this whole thing at a run. I met you and in less than a week, I was essentially living with you. Our relationship is still new. I like this part of the world and I’m grateful you’re here and I feel grounded when I’m with you.”

“That’s a nice thing to say. I think we’re on the same wavelength. We’ll talk more when we get home.”

They pulled into the back parking lot of the motel and were met by Effie who was walking around to the restaurant. “Hi Guys, I hope you had a nice time. Everything’s going well here. There are a couple people here looking for Townes. We put his mother in one of the suites.”

Townes stopped unloading the minibus. “My mother is here?”

A tall stocky woman in an expensive suit came down the stairs from the second-floor suite. She walked over and hugged Townes and then she turned to Myra. “Well hello darling, you must be Bobbie.”

Townes shook his head. “Don’t be silly mother, this is Bobbie.”

His mother turned and inspected Bobbie though narrowed eyes; taking in the grey hair, the cargo shorts, hiking boots and the oversized cashmere sweater. “Pleased to meet you, I’m sure.”

At this point Trixie decided to take over. “Hello Mrs. Carson. I’m Trixie McNally. I’m CEO of Fox oil and I’ve been hoping to meet with you. I’m glad for this opportunity. Let’s let Townes get unpacked. Have you seen the art gallery?”

“Wow, I think my mom has met her match. I’m sorry, she’s seen pictures of you I don’t know why….”

“Your mother wants you to have children. She could think I’m the greatest person in the world but she’ll never approve of our relationship.”

“Oh, I can’t imagine Mom wants to be a grandmother…”

It would have been so easy to walk away and tell Townes he should go find a younger more fecund partner. Bobbie really didn’t want to be connected to this woman who disapproved of her so much. She was uncomfortable with people who didn’t like her. There it is, she thought. That’s my biggest fault. Will I trash what I have with Townes just because his mother is mean to me. It’s apparent that Townes doesn’t see what his mother is doing. I’m an adult and not a cowering schoolgirl. I have my own accomplishments. I don’t need anyone.

“Maybe you want to stay with your mother tonight. You could take her to one of our fine dining establishments. You can use my name to get a good table.” Bobbie turned and went into the back door of the kitchen.

Townes frowned and took his bag upstairs and went to find Trixie and his mother.