Page 15 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
‘I have indeed. A mixture of pumpkin spice lattes and gingerbread ones too.’ Zac held the trays aloft slightly before placing them down on the counter in the small kitchen area.
As Declan, Art and Dennis flocked towards him, Polly turned back towards the window. So this was how he was going to play this. He was going to buy himself into that promotion. She shook her head. What was she supposed to do? She wasn’t going to be promoted. Zac would. She could feel her breath quickening as she began thinking about everything – the flat, the fact she couldn’t stay at Pennycress Inn all paid for forever, finding her own home on this wage. And that was if she was lucky. That was if Zac deemed her worthy to stay on the team when he took over Declan’s role. And he wouldn’t. He hated her. Never had more than two words to say to her. He’d fire her.
She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t sit here listening to everyone cooing over Zac and his super obvious attempt at buying affection, at buying his promotion. She tugged at the collar of her sweatshirt, which suddenly felt as though it were attempting to strangle her. She had to get out.
Standing up, she grabbed her notebook and pen and headed towards the door, navigating her way around the people clustered around Zac and his magic lattes.
‘Here’s yours, Polly.’ Extricating himself from the gathered group, Zac stepped into Polly’s path and shoved a takeaway cup beneath her nose.
Glancing around, she realised Declan was watching the exchange as he sipped his latte. Plastering a sweet smile on her face, Polly gushed. ‘Wow, for me? Thank you.’
‘You’re very welcome. Can’t have my roomie going thirsty, can I?’ Zac passed her the cup.
Taking it, Polly caught his eye. What was that look? Triumph? Fear? She couldn’t work it out, but, in that instant, she knew for certain that she’d been right. He’d brought drinks to try to get everyone on his side. ‘Thank you.’
Backing away again, she watched as Zac was quickly absorbed back into the conversation going on around him before she turned and headed outside.
Stepping into the tired foyer of the visitor centre, Polly dropped the full cup of pumpkin spice latte in the bin, and sidestepped around another runner before pulling open the heavy door and walking outside. The cold autumn air hit her, a welcome distraction from the scene she’d just left behind. She needed to get away from Zac’s schmoozing.
* * *
Making her way back into the visitor centre half an hour later, Polly paused just outside the door to the office and scrubbed at the mud on the knees of her jeans. So much for clearing her head. All she’d done was trip over in front of the runners. Whilst walking. Yep, they’d been jogging past, the first few without even a droplet of sweat clinging to their brows and there’d she been, walking – no, strolling – and she’d managed to fall over her own feet. And as if that hadn’t been embarrassing enough, one of the runners had sped towards her and checked she was okay. No wonder they hadn’t asked her to join their running team. They probably thought she needed more practice walking first.
Well, she’d blame Zac for that. All she’d been able to think about was the promotion and how precarious her once well-thought-out plan to move to this part of the Cotswolds had become. The last five years of stretching herself thin, of limping by as a single person on a part-time wage and splitting herself between doing the best for the children in her class as well as attempting to secure a job at the trust, and this is where it had got her – running out on her duties to clear her head and embarrassing herself in front of the regular reserve runners. Thanks, Zac.
She felt the swoosh of the door open behind her before hearing Zac’s familiar voice. ‘Took a tumble?’
Straightening her back, Polly felt a fierce glow of embarrassment sear across her skin. Of course it was him. Of course. ‘Er, just a little.’
Zac paused, still gripping the door handle, heat escaping the warm foyer of the visitor centre. ‘You, umm, need anything?’
Blinking, Polly stuttered, ‘N-no. Thank you.’
‘Right.’ With the slightest frown, Zac waited until she’d entered the building before letting the door swing shut.
Putting her hands on her hips, Polly watched him through the glass door as he walked towards the ranger’s cabin. Had he just been nice? Okay, not nice, but normal? She was certain she’d seen a flicker of normality flash across his features. Jeez, if he kept this up, she might mistakenly think he’d reverted back to the human he used to be.
Nope. Shaking her head, she stood in front of the radiator, about the only thing the foyer had going for it. With the heat warming her palms, she tried to focus. She didn’t have a clue what she was doing here. Not now she knew Zac was in line for the promotion too.
Standing there, she watched as he walked up to the ranger, who had just emerged from the trees. What was he up to?
‘Ah, Polly. There you are.’
Turning, she looked towards Declan, who was standing in the half-open doorway to the office. ‘Hi, sorry, I was just…’ She indicated the reserve beyond the glass doors. Did she need to explain herself?
‘Acclimatising yourself?’ Declan smiled.
‘Yes, that’s right.’ Nodding, Polly wiped her muddy hands down the front of her jeans before following him back into the office. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘Yes, of course.’ As they walked into the office, Declan waved his hand in the direction of the meeting room. ‘Shall we?’
Following him into the room, she noticed a stack of papers in the middle of the large table – maps and photographs by the looks of things.
‘Sit down, sit down. Coffee? Tea? Water?’ Declan pointed to the tiny table of refreshments in the corner of the room.
‘No, I’m fine. Thanks.’ She swallowed, her mouth dry, as she sat down. Why did she have the distinct feeling this meeting wasn’t going to be good? She glanced at Declan, who was hopping from foot to foot before finally walking to the opposite side of the table and sitting down. He wasn’t the relaxed man he’d been yesterday, this morning even. Was she going to lose her job? Was that it? Was he going to fire her? That would explain the way he was acting. He looked nervous and she couldn’t imagine he was used to firing anybody, and if he was, then he didn’t give off an air of enjoyment about it. Gripping her hands on the arms of the chair, she shifted her seat closer to the table.
‘Right, something has come to my attention, which I feel I must address. I’ve already spoken to Zac and so it seems only fair that I inform you at this moment in time too.’ Reaching for the half-empty glass in front of him, Declan took a swig of water.
