Luke typed the magic words, ‘The End’, pressed save, then leaned back in his chair. He always felt there should be bells and fireworks when he finished the final draft of a manuscript, but he was perfectly happy to look out at his secluded, sunny garden and breathe a contented sigh.
He could sit and watch the birds all day and often gazed out at the idyllic scene outside his study window when he needed to think. The garden was a perfect respite from the gritty crime novels he wrote.
As his thoughts turned to his next book, something pink, white and scruffy appeared on the lawn and made a beeline for the seed scattered under the bird table.
A chicken! It had barely any feathers. Poor thing. He’d noticed the gentle clucking coming from next door a few times since he’d moved in, but had no idea what sort of conditions the poor creatures were kept in.
Then he saw the woman stalking it.
She was crouching down, looking like some sort of wild woman as she scurried along close to the ground. He might have known this place was too good to be true and he’d end up living next door to some sort of lunatic.
Her blonde hair looked like an old wire pan scourer that had turned into a tangled mess. As he watched, she looked up, tripped over her cardigan and fell flat on her face.
‘Ouch!’ Luke winced and jumped to his feet. If she was from the house next door, then she was responsible for the big unruly garden with its strange noises. Sometimes he awoke to hear blood-curdling screams in the middle of the night, which was great for a writer’s imagination, but not so good if you were lying awake expecting to be murdered.
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av Womans Weekly Fiction Special.
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Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av Womans Weekly Fiction Special.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Perfect Gift
The change to their Christmas plans was a shock, though it could teach them a lesson…
Christmas Is Coming
With all the mess, noise and disruption, she was seriously struggling to embrace the festive spirit
The Generation G-App
It was a lovely idea, but surely there was no way the project would become a successful reality?
The Christmas Tree
The cottage had no festive cheer, but could Jennie create the impression of Yuletide joy before it was too late?
We All Stand Together
If the plan failed, Joan wouldn’t be the only one having an unhappy Christmas
The Christmas Robin
Presents to buy, food to cook and a tree to decorate – could she create the perfect day?
Maudie's First Christmas
With all her dreams of a family Christmas dashed, it seemed that Ruth would have to adjust to a very different festive season this year...
Friends Like You
Leah was about to find out what sort of people she’d had in her life all these years…
Breaking Point
She hoped her children would start to compromise soon, or they were in for a distinctly frosty festive season
A CHAT WITH... Sarah Morgan
Well-known for her heart-warming family tales, Sarah Morgan’s latest novel is packed full of love and laughter. Here, she reveals how she comes to craft her characters and she gave her new release that sprinkle of festive magic...