Christmas at the Lucky Parrot Garden Centre Read online

  ‘And wash your hands!’ Charlie said, remonstrating with the woman. ‘Remember the Health and Safety talk I gave you.’

  ‘Right you are.’ But heading back into the kitchen with her tray of brownies, Babs turned in confusion and added, ‘I done prepped a hundred cream teas, just like you said. But what if we don’t get a hundred orders for cream teas? What if we get, say, fifty orders? And fifty left over?’

  ‘Then I guess we’ll have to eat the other fifty cream teas ourselves.’

  Babs looked horrified. ‘I’m on a diet.’

  ‘I was joking. They’ll last until tomorrow, at least. If we keep them in the fridge, covered with cling film.’ She paused. ‘You are covering each cream tea plate in cling film like we discussed?’

  Looking back at her dubiously, Babs nodded. ‘Yes, I done that.’ She hesitated. ‘Mostly.’

  Mostly?

  Charlie opened her mouth to query that, but Babs had already vanished, bearing away the misshapen brownies. She glanced at her watch and sucked in a breath. Fifteen minutes to go before opening.

  Suddenly exhausted, she pulled out a chair and sat down to think what else needed doing.

  Her brain refused to work, sadly.

  But her feet seemed quite happy to have a rest, so she stayed where she was and closed her eyes. Ah, peace …

  The brief respite did not last long, however.

  A few minutes later, she opened her eyes again as Irene emerged from the back of the tea rooms with a broom and a cross expression.

  Charlie dragged herself back to her feet. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘Some bloody bird has only got in and done its business all over the conservatory, that’s what.’

  ‘Oh no. Have you let it out again?’

  Her heart hurt at the thought of some small, defenceless bird flapping wildly about the glass walls of the conservatory, desperate for a way out.

  ‘Long gone.’ Irene pursed her lips, looking at her accusingly. ‘Somebody left the riverside terrace door ajar overnight.’

  ‘Oops.’ That “somebody” was probably her, Charlie thought with a guilty start. She only hoped the bird hadn’t got hurt. ‘Poor thing.’

  ‘I cleaned up its doings. Had to change five red checked tablecloths though. That’s nearly all your spares gone.’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘I put the soiled ones in the laundry bag. For collection Monday.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  Irene shook her head. ‘And us not even open yet.’

  ‘I know, it’s a nuisance. Thank you for doing that so promptly.’ Charlie nodded towards the broom. ‘Better put that away now and wash your hands. Time to open.’

  ‘Isn’t there going to be a ribbon?’

  ‘A what?’

  ‘If it’s so grand, this reopening of yours, shouldn’t there be a ribbon across the front door?’ Irene looked at her expectantly, arms folded across the broom. ‘And a celebrity to cut it? Or a parish councillor, at least?’

  Charlie stared back at her, speechless.

  Okay, that was the extract.

  Now why not continue reading this lively Cornish romcom?

  Gideon Petheric, rugged and taciturn, is about to burst onto the scene with his rucksack, like a very unlikely guardian angel …

  Honest.

  THE ODDEST LITTLE CORNISH TEA SHOP

  Other charming romcoms by Kindle All Stars author Beth Good (UK links):

  The Cornish Colouring Book Club

  The Oddest Little Cornish Tea Shop

  The Oddest Little Book Shop

  The Oddest Little Gingerbread Shop

  The Oddest Little Chocolate Shop

  The Oddest Little Christmas Shop

  The Oddest Little Romance Shop

  The Oddest Little Beach Shop

  The Oddest Little Christmas Cake Shop

  The Oddest Little Shop Trio

  (a 3-story edition)