He, She and Meant to be

By Meredith Resce

Michele's parents are off for six months of touring and have left him alone to manage house and farm. Is he up to living on his own and doing for himself? Just when he's decided it is a good challenge, his sister, Kelly, reminds him that the temporary replacement teacher at the local school, Charlie Winters, will be occupying his parents' end of the house. A little company will be okay.

But when Michele meets Charlie, it's all wrong. Charlie is an attractive young woman who is expecting to share a house with Michelle, not a condescending, equally attractive, young man who insists that he be called Mitch.

It's all Kelly's fault for insisting on using his Italian name, and who calls their daughter Charlie, anyway?

Sharing a house is out of the question, but is the alternative any better?

A case of mistaken identity, and a freak storm throw Mitch and Charlie together and their determined efforts to avoid each other are overthrown.

A sweet contemporary romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meredith Resce
• Release date: Jul 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9780648953760

Book preview

Glossary of Aussie Terms

Chook – Chicken or hen

Mobile – Cell phone

The Man from Snowy River – an iconic Australian poem, made into a classic movie in the 1980s. Jim Craig is the iconic Man from Snowy River.

Ute – Utility vehicle known as a truck in the US

Parmi – A classic Australian pub meal. Parmigiana (crumbed, fried veal or chicken with Italian sauce, ham and melted cheese on top)

Onslo and Hyacinth Bucket – Characters from the classic British comedy: Keeping up Appearances

Galah – An Australian native cockatoo with distinct pink and grey plumage

Fairy Bread – A well-loved favorite party food consisting of white sliced-bread, buttered with hundreds and thousands (tiny candy sprinkles) on top. Must be cut into triangles.

CHAPTER ONE

S omeone’s at the door ! Mitch Walker yelled to the others in the house while buttering some toast and his stomach demanded he continue this life-saving task. His parents were still in their room, packing last minute bits and pieces, and his sister, Alanah had disappeared to the bathroom, yet again. She was stressed, obviously.

Oh, fine. He took a quick bite of the toast and went to answer the front door. It was just after 6 a.m. and he assumed it was his other sister, Kelly. He was right.

Don’t you have a key? He shoved another bite of toast in his mouth.

When did we start locking the doors? Kelly complained.

Since the insurance company made it clear they wouldn’t pay out on any theft claims if the doors aren’t locked.

Since when did we ever have thefts in the district?

That wasn’t the point. Insurance was expensive, and pointless if you didn’t obey all the fine print. And just because there had not been a theft in the district in living memory didn’t mean there might not be one sooner or later.

Is everyone ready to go? Kelly asked.

They’re fussing around like a bunch of headless chooks. But they’ve got to leave in the next twenty minutes or they won’t make it to the city in time for Alanah to catch her flight.

It’s a big thing, Michele. Mitch winced at his sister’s use of his given name. Mum and Dad will be gone for over six months, so will Alanah.

Yes, so they keep telling me. And would you mind calling me Mitch, like everyone else does.

Why? Michele is a beautiful Italian name. You should see it as a privilege being named after Nonno.

Except no one knows how to pronounce it, and I have a troubled childhood being called Michelle and everyone expecting me to be a girl.

Kelly laughed.

You laugh. I was traumatized. It had been a point of embarrassment and humiliation many times during roll call, and his mates never let him forget it—until he’d made them understand in a few school-yard scraps. He would be known as Mitch. Please forgive me Nonno Michele. It had been okay for him. His mates had known that it should be pronounced Mick-el-leh, and he went by the name Micky anyway.

Michele. Mum walked into the kitchen and gave him a hug—she’d either missed the lecture about his name, or had chosen to ignore it. Probably the latter. Now are you sure you’re going to be able to manage everything?

It was a legitimate question. The last ten years his father had shared the farm work with him and his sister, Alanah, and now they were all going to leave him to it for six months. And his mother wouldn’t be there to wait on him hand and foot, as she had done his whole life—washing, baking, cooking, cleaning. But he only had himself to please, so he figured he’d manage.

So you know Charlie Winters will be arriving today? Kelly had made herself a cup of tea and was sipping it.

What?

You know this, Michele. Don’t pretend you don’t. Kelly took another sip.

He suddenly had a shaft of cold water run through his system. There was something he was supposed to have remembered.

Don’t worry, darl, Mum said. I’ve got our space all ready for him. Clean sheets, everything is tidy, Dad has cleared his desk, and I’ve made space in our wardrobe for his things.

Mitch blinked. Something tickled at the back of his mind. Something he suddenly recognized should have been at the front of his mind.

Michele Walker! You’re hopeless. Kelly put her mug in the sink. I asked you about this a few weeks ago, remember?

He remembered that his sister had asked him something, but he’d not been paying particular attention at the time, and it had slid by without him giving it another thought.

He’s just being silly, Mum said. Charlie isn’t going to be any trouble for you. He’ll have his own space using our bedroom, ensuite and Dad’s office. The only time you’ll see him is if you’re in the kitchen together. I’m sure you’ll be glad of the company.

Remind me again who Charlie is? It was something to do with the school. He recalled Kelly, as a member of the school board, had asked him something about something, but the organization had gone through his mother, obviously, and he’d put it out of mind.

Kelly rolled her eyes and let out a huff of frustration.

Mrs. Webb is having major surgery—

The primary school teacher, Mrs. Webb?

Mum nodded. She’ll be out for at least six weeks so the Department of Education are sending a temporary replacement, Charlie Winters.

Right. And he’s staying here because ...?

Because we have the room, and while everyone else is away, it will be good company for you.

Mitch shrugged. He supposed it would be good to have someone else around the house while everyone was away. And his parent’s section of the house was quite self-contained except for kitchen and laundry.

Okay. So he’s due to arrive today?

Kelly shook her head and rolled her eyes.

Well, I’m set. Dad walked into the kitchen and kissed Kelly. Hello, Darl. How are the kids?

Mitch tuned out while Kelly talked about each of her four children, walking to the other side of the house where his and Alanah’s bedrooms were.

Hey, Lani. You better get a wriggle on. You have a flight to catch.

Alanah emerged from her bedroom dragging her suitcase, her backpack slung over her shoulder.

You okay? Mitch asked.

I’ve never been on such a long trip before.

The other side of the world, hey?

I wish someone was coming with me.

Someone has to stay home and look after the farm.

Alanah threw her arms around her brother. It was awkward. Mitch wasn’t much into hugging his sisters, but Alanah seemed to be drawing strength from it.

It’s going to be okay. Once you get to Trinity River, the Kennedys will be there, and it will be like old times.

Trinity Lakes. The Kennedys live at Trinity Lakes.

Mitch nodded. Whatever. You’re still close to Sasha, aren’t you? She wouldn’t have asked you to be bridesmaid if you weren’t.

Alanah nodded.

And you used to have a thing for Caleb, didn’t you?

She gave him a horrified look.

Well, it looked like you used to, but I suppose that’s long in the past.

Long, long in the past.

Okay. If you say so. Anyway, you’ll have a great time once you get there.

I hope so.

Say g’day to them all for me, especially the yank.

Mitch, they’re all American.

Yeah, but we always called Matt, the yank.

How very gracious of you. He must have loved being in an Australian high school with you lot.

"Of course