Page 11 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
‘You’d better. It’ll only be worse when he finds out for himself.’ Stacey’s voice rose from where Polly had placed her phone on the desk next to her make-up bag.
Polly scoffed. ‘Yep, now that’s a room I wouldn’t like to be in when he’s told.’
‘It’s only fair to him. Imagine it was the other way around. If you’d been led to assume you were getting the job and he’d been told he was. You’d want him to give you warning, wouldn’t you? A chance to get used to the idea without it just being thrown at you last minute.’ Stacey’s voice grew muffled as a loud scraping noise filtered down the line.
‘Stacey? Are you still there?’ Giving up on the idea of smoothing out the creases from her sweatshirt, Polly picked up her hairbrush.
‘Yes, sorry. Just needed to move these desks around. It’s like playing musical chairs in the classroom at the moment. Whoever I sit people next to, all they want to do is chat about where they’re going for Bonfire Night or what they’ve asked Santa to bring them for Christmas.’
‘Yuck, the C word already? It’s not even November.’
‘I know, but all the adverts are out on TV already. Besides, the supermarkets have been selling tubs of Roses and Quality Street for months now.’
‘True.’ Polly sighed. Christmas had always been her favourite time of the year when it came to teaching. Preparing for the Nativity, making Christmas cards, just the general buzz and energy throughout the school.
‘Anyway, back to your problem with the gorgeous Zac.’
‘Stop it.’ She’d told her friend Zac was gorgeous once. One time when she’d first met him, and still Stacey wouldn’t let her forget. And, of course, the kiss had only added to this particular tease-factor. ‘This is serious. How am I supposed to tell him? He hates me as it is.’
‘Umm, I think you’re just going to have to come out with it. Just tell him when you see him next and get it over and done with.’
‘I guess you’re right.’
‘Look, he probably just knows that the boss, Dylan, or whoever, is retiring soon and has decided to apply, that’s all. He’ll be more annoyed if he puts the effort into going for the job and then finds out.’
‘Declan,’ Polly corrected her as she forced the brush through her damp hair before watching her wayward curls spring back to life. ‘Yes, you’re right. I’ll tell him when I see him next.’
‘As soon as you see him. The moment you walk into that office, you tell him. Unless you see him running around the inn with a bath towel wrapped around his middle or something.’ Stacey giggled. ‘Okay, maybe that wouldn’t be appropriate timing.’
Rolling her eyes, Polly shook her head. ‘All the rooms are en suite, I think I’ll be quite safe from that sight, thanks.’
‘That’s a shame. Right, I’d better get going. I’ve got prep to do before a staff meeting at eight.’
‘Okay. Have fun.’ Now that was something she didn’t miss. The staff meetings or the prep.
‘Oh, I’m sure I will,’ Stacey answered dryly before hanging up.
With the room once again plunged into silence, Polly gave up taming her hair and instead drew it up into her signature messy bun before grabbing her mobile and heading to breakfast.
* * *
As she walked towards the kitchen door, Polly could hear chatter and laughter through the delicious aroma of eggs, bacon and French toast. Her stomach growled as she pushed open the door, quickly scanning the room and breathing a sigh of relief that Zac was absent. In fact, there was only an older couple already seated so far.
‘Morning, Polly. How did you sleep?’ Walking over to her, Laura indicated a table by the window. ‘Do you want to sit over here? Make the most of the sunshine before those dark clouds descend?’
‘That sounds like a good idea. Thanks.’ Following her, Polly then slipped into a chair, the weak morning sunlight trying its best to infiltrate the kitchen. ‘Oh, and I slept really well, thanks. The bed is super comfy.’
Laura grinned as she passed her a menu. ‘I’m glad. And you like the room? You can see yourself being okay there for the next three months?’
‘Absolutely. The room is beautiful.’ Polly smiled back. It wasn’t the room, or the inn, that was bothering her about staying, it was who she had to share the inn with. If he wasn’t here, then she’d quite happily spend the next three years sleeping on the comfiest bed she’d ever had the pleasure of dozing on, enjoying Jackson’s delicious breakfasts and not having to lift a finger. What more could she ask for?
‘Aw, that’s good. I must admit, I love having long-term guests. It’s nice to have the chance to get to know people.’
Polly nodded.
‘Anyway, I’ll stop nattering and get you a drink while you decide what to order. What would you like? Tea? Coffee? Juice? Both? All three?’ Laura laughed. ‘Or we do have pumpkin spice lattes on the menu. A Jackson speciality for the autumn.’
‘A pumpkin spice latte sounds perfect.’ She could do with the caffeine and the warmth of the pumpkin spice. If it hadn’t been the comfort of the bed lulling her to sleep, she probably wouldn’t have got the few hours’ sleep she did have. Every time she’d closed her eyes, all she could think about was Zac being here, sleeping in the same inn, working at the same reserve. Heck, they almost shared a desk they were positioned that close!
