This Charming Angel

By Sharon Gartner

★★★★★ Amazing book, witty, fun, fast paced and funny as hell.

An Australian small town is thrown into turmoil when city girl Lisa Collins makes a reckless purchase of an old run-down villa. She finds herself forced to leave the comfort of the city limits to make her home in the vast open spaces of the country.

Lisa is always drawing unwanted attention, especially from Larry, a dear old colourful sole. Even though she pretends not to be disturbed by This Charming Angel Lisa pushes forward and turns her old shack into a successful wedding venue and accommodation. Excitement builds when Lisa has the opportunity to plan her first wedding, but curveballs are thrown from every angle, including the return of her mortal enemy and the mysterious findings her Charming Angel leads her to discover!

Following on from the Acclaimed This Charming Shack Lisa Collins has a whole new adventure awaiting her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sharon Gartner
• Release date: Sep 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310435720

Sharon Gartner

Sharon is a content writer and an independent published Author and writer of chick literature fiction.​This Charming Shack published in 2011 was the start of the collection, followed by This Charming Angel in 2013, This Charming Guest in 2015, and her latest, This Charming Dilemma in 2019.​Sharon grew up in small town New Zealand and moved to the beautiful forest ranges of Blackbutt Qld Australia in 2009 where she began her writing career.​Having lived mainly in small towns throughout her life, "This Charming series" was based on her experiences in living in small towns and the interesting characters she has meet along the way.Sharon then went on to publish "Bare Feet" A tale of divine guidance.​Sharon continues to write from her home in Australia and has many publications available on Amazon.com She is also a content writer for Not for profit organisations and Charities

Book preview

2

This Charming Angel

By

Sharon Gartner

Illustration and cover design - Libby Reed. © www.libbyreed.com

Editing Janine Ogden

IBSN 13 978-0-9873750-3-2

www.sharongartner.com

Copyright © 2012

All rights reserved

N

o part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the Author

For all my angels here on earth.

Acknowledgements

To the beautiful Libby and Janine for their hard work….as usual

And to those I meet who inspire my characters.

Also available by Sharon Gartner

This Charming Shack

Facebook Profile.

Lisa Collins.

In a relationship with Rick Crankshaw.

President of the Country Women’s Association.

About me. I'm over 5 foot tall, blond, and after brief time in property investment which didn't work out due to discovering a squatter in my ceiling and having my heart ripped out by Jake, who ran off with a woman old enough to be his mother, I have discovered my true calling as a wedding planner. I have fantastic friends (Millie) and I'm so in love with Rick (used to live in my ceiling, but not a pervert or anything. Also Jake's twin brother, but nothing like Jake, is sweet and sensitive). I live with my best friends Millie and Sid in my rural property which can be hired as a venue for weddings (complete with own petting zoo).

Member of ‘The Impulse Behaviour Management Support Group’. (As an adviser, not actual member).

1

9am

God I wish Mum and Dad would leave.

They’ve been here for three weeks now and have worn me down with all their questions and tuttering. It’s so annoying and I feel like I have to justify everything to them, like ‘why did I buy a condemned house without a building inspection’ and ‘why did I quit a perfectly good job to become a wedding planner’.

I still haven't told them about the plans for the petting zoo but I’m a big girl and feel that’s none of their business. Not that I'm scared of them or anything but Mum's disapproving looks followed by ‘tch’ is wearing thin. So best they know little. Millie and Sid are due to return from their honeymoon and I am so excited.

Millie and Sid's wedding was the first event I have planned after I discovered my true calling as a wedding planner.

They also moved in with me so they can finish off the renovations. Millie and I went into partnership after I brought the property. Me, the owner, and Millie, the project manager. But after deciding not to sell the house for profit I proposed that Millie and Sid live here for free and Sid do the renovations. Millie's not exactly a country girl so she is going to stay in the city during the week and come home weekends. It works out perfectly for Sid as he's gotten quite attached to the country and can spend his time doing renovations and building a guest house and pens for the petting zoo. Well, I haven't exactly told Sid about the petting zoo or guest house yet but I'm sure he'll be fine with it. I'm also hoping Mum and Dad will realise that newlyweds need their space and leave.

Rick is dropping by later to help me move furniture to my new office space in the village. I'm so excited. Rick is gorgeous (nothing like his brother Jake who dumped me for an old woman). Things between us are going great, apart from the fact he hasn't even hinted at wanting to get married. And since Mum and Dad have been here,

Rick hasn't wanted to stay a single night with me, saying that he feels a bit weird with Mum and Dad around even though they are camped out in their Winnebago. And when I stay over at his place he seems to just want to cuddle and talk and not have sex. I mean cuddling and talking is nice but I need to tell Rick that I'm a warm blooded woman with needs and not a daytime talk show host.

I have also built a website for my wedding planning business and after Dad's annoying lecture about how many small business fail in the first five years and overheads, blah, blah, I went back and begged Debbie, my old boss at the retirement home, to take me back to do a couple of shifts a week to make ends meet. Debbie is the best boss ever as she gave me three afternoon shifts a week and didn't even say I told you so.

I'm also been looking on e-bay for animals for the petting zoo. I’m convinced that adding a petting zoo to the property would attract even more events.

It used to be an old abattoir back in the mid century and the remnants of the old slaughter yards are situated at the rear of the house. I was very disturbed by this so decided that having cute and cuddly animals who will be loved by many (those who are prepared to pay for the experience), will bring a good omen to the old slaughter yards. Bonnie and Clyde, my two Boer goats, will make a great start and I’m thinking about getting alpacas, small horses and maybe even an emu.

Arrival of Matt

I heard a car pull up and got very turned on at the thought of Rick arriving, but it’s not Rick, it's only Matt.

Hey, he grunted through his mop of youthful hair as he sauntered in all moody and hormonal.

Matt and I met after a wee incident involving high alcohol consumption, and then ended up having sex. Matt is only nineteen so I’m very ashamed about the whole experience.

He is also the son of Pamela, the woman who ended up having an affair with Jake. But when Jake left town after selling the family farm to mindless developers,

Pamela had a small mental breakdown and is recovering at some hospital in town.

I thought you’re meant to be working? I asked as he planted his dirty, greasy backside down on the nice clean sofa.

Yeah, lunch break, thought I come and say hey.

Why haven't you gone home to Neroli for lunch?

I thought she was here. He said puzzled.

Neroli is an old friend of mine who came to stay with her demon child Tom and surprised us all by having another baby without telling anybody she was pregnant. Matt (who was also staying with me at the time after being kicked out of home by his snotty mother) was smitten with Neroli and Tom, and they now live together with the demon child and baby Bailey.

Matt tucked in to his greasy pie in equally greasy jeans.

So when do Sid and Millie get back? asked the spotty youth through a mouthful of meat pie.

I had a sudden panic attack as I totally forgot about the time. Millie and Sid should be here any minute and I haven't even put together plans for the guest house or petting zoo. You see, the plan is that if I present all plans to Sid then that should lesson the risk of his new wife pulling me back to impulse behaviour meetings and insisting I take prescription drugs. I also promised that as part of my wedding planning service I would set up the marital bedroom and make it nice; so when they return from their honeymoon and Sid carries Millie across the threshold they can start their marriage off in perfect ambiance.

Matt you need to help me put this bed together, Millie and Sid will be here any minute and they have nowhere to sleep. I said pulling him from the sofa.

Yeah whatever, as long as it doesn't take long. Why are you worried about it now? They're probably all shagged out anyway.

I dragged the spotty youth to the marital bedroom with tools in hand. Matt put the bed up in no time flat while I busied myself throwing furniture around the room to make it look more presentable.

I almost got the thrown together effect of the bedroom down to a presentable finish when Matt asked me whose bed it was that he just assembled.

It's Millie and Sid's, I answered him a bit puzzled. It's my wedding present to them.

Yeah but where did you get it from?

Pff, old garage sale, I said, waving his silly question away.

This used to be my bed, Matt said with a hint of concern in his voice. Where did you get it from?

I didn't want to tell him but it was a clearance sale that Matt's father held at the family’s estate. So I didn't answer him, hoping he'll move off the subject.

This is my bed! Matt exclaimed. Look you can see my initials in the headboard.

Okay, okay. Yes Matt, I got it from the clearance sale your dad had but I didn't realise it was your bed.

How much did you pay for it?

I'm sorry?

Lisa!

Fifty dollars.

Fifty dollars! Do you know how sentimental that bed is? That's where I had my first shag.

Matt is so overreacting. I told him that it’s not my fault that his bed was sold. Matt offered to buy it back but I declined on account of the fact that I just got throw pillows with love hearts on them to match the tones of the headboard and more to the point, Millie and Sid would have nowhere to sleep. Now Matt’s gone all moody again and left without saying goodbye.

God what is his problem?

Arrival of Rick

He's so sexy.

Mum and Dad are out shopping and Millie and Sid have not yet arrived home, so I hinted to Rick that we make the most of our time alone.

Arrival of Mum and Dad

Phew, that was a close one! Five minutes sooner and they would have been scarred, not quite for life though, because not much happened anyway on account of Rick being terrified of getting caught shagging by parents.

Arrival of Neroli and baby Bailey

God what is this, Grand Central Station?

Arrival of Millie and Sid

So excited.

I ran out to greet them and cannot wait to show them their new room. Millie is barely out of the car when I pull her into a big embrace. This is the longest that Millie and I have ever been apart since we met and I'm getting all choked up because I have missed her. Millie's pleased to see me too and surprised that my parents are still here. I don't know why she would be surprised; she knows my parents cannot resist annoying their only child.

We are now all seated around the table on the patio and Millie's passing around her camera so we can all look at their honeymoon shots. It’s a lovely peaceful scene taking place and it makes me realise how blessed I am. Neroli’s staring into space twirling her long dark hair around her finger, and Rick’s bouncing baby Bailey on his knee.

Rick's so adorable and sexy; he would make a great father.

I so want a baby.

So what's been happening here? Millie asked when all the photos had been seen.

Well Lisa was about to move her furniture into her new office. Dad informed her.

Office? Millie exclaimed shooting me a look.

Oh god, I haven't told Millie that I rented office space for my new wedding planning business.

Yes, I thought I would need an office, you know, for um, office stuff.

Lisa, you don't need an office, it's not viable. What about the overheads?

Yes I agree, said Dad.

I need to change the subject as I feel a lecture coming on.

Lisa you didn't sign a lease did you?

Um, just a tiny one?

Oh Lisa! Millie groaned.

Actually Lisa while we’re all here, it's about time we talked about this, Mum said in her annoying tuttering way.

What is this? Intervention?

Dad starts, this wedding planning business, I'm not disapproving but don't you think this sort of profession would be better off if you had some clients first, before you start opening an office?

I look to Rick for support, he'll tell them.

Shit, Rick’s also looking at me in a tuttering way.

I do have clients, I said in a hoity tone.

Truth is I don't, but Mum and Dad had announced they're leaving at the end of the week so I'll just have to pretend I have clients until they leave.

Millie opened her mouth to speak when she was interrupted by Matt throwing a wad of bank notes at me.

What the..? I thought he had left.

Give you a hundred bucks for the bed.

What bed? Millie asks.

Ah...

Lisa who are these clients of yours? Dad asks.

Ah...

Alright two hundred...

What bed? Millie asks again.

Lisa what are you charging these clients? Mum asks.

Now everyone's looking at me for answers and it’s so unfair. I feel like I have been railroaded by the wedding planning police. I fake a coughing fit and run to the kitchen where it is quiet and no one is asking questions.

Rick came in to see if I was okay in his sexy way.

Do you still want me to take the stuff down to the new office? he asks as he wraps his arms around my waist.

I don't know, you have to ask the office police. I said in a sarcastic tone.

Rick laughs and turns me to face him, I see your cough has improved. Listen how about we do that later, I have to go and do some work anyway. Will see you after?

He gave me a kiss and told me to be nice to my parents, I went to go back out to tell Mum and Dad that how many clients I have is not their business, when I turned around to see them all standing in the doorway.

Shit!

So these clients? Mum asks again.

All right, I said defeated, well um ... didn't want to tell you as it's a big secret but it's um ... Matt and Neroli.

Mum's hand flies to her mouth in a pleasant gasp before pulling a stunned looking Neroli into a big embrace. Matt's looking at me in total shock, Millie’s looking at me suspicious like and Neroli's stunned look as been replaced with a very confused expression.

But Neroli always looks confused.

I grabbed Matt by the arm while the distraction of congratulations being said was going on, and pulled him in to the storeroom.

When am I getting married? he asks totally bewildered.

You’re not! I hissed, but I will make a deal with you, you pretend to be getting married just till my parents leave and I'll give you your bed back.

Matt’s thinking about the proposed offer and a big dreamy smile comes over his face.

Yeah okay, whatever, he agrees, now give me back my bed.

Not right now, I hissed. Let me find another bed for Sid and Millie first, but don't tell them it's your bed alright?

Matt nodded.

Great. Now get back in there and tell Neroli she's not really getting married before she opens her mouth.

Back in the little gathering full of joy and confusion. Matt now has his arm around Neroli telling Mum and Dad how he knew the first time he met Neroli, she was the one and all that mushy stuff. Neroli must still be in total shock as she still looks very confused and hasn't said anything yet.

Millie cocked one suspicious eye at me and I diverted her attention by asking if she and Sid wanted to see their new bedroom. I don't give her time to answer as I grab their belongings and lead them to the marital bedroom.

In marital bedroom

Millie and Sid seem pleased about the room and they look so happy together with their little affectionate banter. Sid declares he is going to have a lie down as he is tired.

I went to leave the room but Millie grabs my arm.

Great, here comes another lecture.

Tell me that Neroli and Matt aren't really getting married and you have done this to shut your parents up.

What? How does she..?

Lisa?

Yes, I said in a defeated tone. Matt agreed to go along with it just until Friday.

Millie shook her head, I know she really wants to say that telling my parents about a fake wedding is a dumb idea and the office is an equally dumb idea, but she simply sighs.

Back in kitchen

Mum and Neroli are now sitting around the kitchen table looking through bridal magazines.

Matt must have gone back to work as his ute's gone.

Later

Neroli is now gone and I have to say, thank god she’s gone, as it looked like she was enjoying looking at wedding stuff and I'm not sure if Matt’s told her she's not really getting married.

Mum and Dad haven't mentioned it again and now all that is left to do is just get through the next three days until they leave.

Rick rung to tell me that if I was still getting a hard time from the office police then he may know someone that will take over the six month lease I signed and he'll let me know. Rick also thinks that it may be a good idea if I start the business off from home first and build it from there.

He's so brilliant and sexy.

So that's what I’ve decided to do.

I had just got off the phone with Rick when Millie sauntered out onto the porch stretching and looking very restful.

Lisa that bed is so comfortable, where did you get it from?

Oh… you know, pff.

And the room looks great. Thank you, I know you must have put in a big effort.

Millie's glowing, married life must agree with her. She suggested we open a bottle of wine to toast the new bedroom.

Two bottles later

Ha, ha, so funny, Millie was just telling me about their honeymoon and that Sid forgot his board shorts and had to wear budgie smugglers to the beach.

Mum joined us for a short time but she cannot see why we think wearing budgie smugglers was that funny, as the whole point of tight bathing costumes was to keep the sand from getting into awkward places and in fact, my father wears them all the time at the beach. Millie and I are now roaring with laughter and Mum's in a huff and has gone away to cook something.

Millie is putting on her serious lecture face and I know she's going to start on the whole office thing again so I told her not to worry. I assured her that I had had a think about it and decided to set up office from home and that Rick’s found someone to take over the lease and everything is working out well.

Sid’s joined us; he also said the bed was comfortable.

Three bottles later

I now have enough courage to tell Sid about the petting zoo and guest house.

I was prepared to state my case like lawyers do in court, when shock comes upon me as Millie and Sid think it’s a great idea.

Now I'm worried because they do think it’s a great idea and Millie's not dragging me off to an impulse behaviour meeting.

Sid suggests that he could get some plans done. I tell him not to worry because I already have plans and have already ordered timber for the petting zoo yards. I suddenly remembered that I had bid for some geese on e-bay and the bids will be closed. Millie's shocked at the thought of bidding for animals online and I point out it’s not like selling a teapot, animals online come from breeders and it's very much an acceptable practice. I race through to my laptop and discovered that I am now the proud owner of a flock of geese.

Millie's now even more shocked and Dad's lecturing me about buying livestock over the internet.

Next morning

I cannot believe I brought a flock of geese. I don't really want geese but can't get out of it now.

Rick came around last night and announced he has a surprise for me and he needs to go to the city, he also offered to pick the flock of geese up for me on his return.

I'm so excited about my surprise and have spent a sleepless night wondering what it could be. Cannot help but think it could be a ring.

I woke Millie up in the small hours of the morning to ask her if she thinks my surprise could be a wedding ring and she said that if it was a ring then Rick would be a first prize dickhead on account of telling someone as neurotic as myself about a surprise in the first place.

Mum and Dad are cleaning the Winnebago in preparation for their next trip. Millie's heading back to the city tomorrow to start work so she's offered to give me a hand to set up my home office.

I'm so excited about my wedding planning business and petting zoo and I had a tiny thought last night that a Bed and Breakfast would also be a great business. But when I mentioned this to Millie, she gave me her usual warning look and said, one step at a time.

Nothing wrong with setting goals, I shot back in defense.

The office didn't take long to set up, just a desk