Page 46 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
Looking across at him, Polly’s eyes filled with tears. He looked so broken. Reaching forward, she stroked his cheek. ‘This isn’t your fault and your parents’ finances aren’t your responsibility.’
He gave a small smile as he covered her hand with his, leaning his cheek into her palm. ‘They are. They need my help.’
‘What I don’t understand is that if all this happened a year ago, what’s changed now? How come you didn’t go for another promotion?’ Not many, but a few promotions had come up across the Cotswolds within the trust. And he could have always applied for similar roles within different charities.
‘Because my gran hasn’t been well. My parents had been caring for her at home until a few months ago, but now we need to cover the costs of her nursing home too.’ He took a deep breath, filling his lungs. ‘That’s where I rush off to. When she’s having a bad day, I sit by the side of her bed and work from there. And that’s why I haven’t taken a different promotion. Meadowfield is close to her home.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.’ Polly blinked back her tears. Her grandma had ended up in a nursing home for the last few months of her life and that was the worst time of Polly’s life. Each time her phone had rung, dread had filled her, and every free moment she’d had, she’d just wanted to spend with her. ‘That’s where you had to go last night.’
Zac shook his head. ‘No, I had to go back to my parents’ last night. They had a meeting with a financial advisor today and needed me to look through a few things before he came.’
Polly nodded. She could feel the coarse stubble on Zac’s cheek beneath her palm. Everything suddenly felt clear. He was allowing her to see beneath the shield he’d put up to barricade her out and, for the first time in months, she was seeing him for who he was. Really seeing him. More so than he’d ever let her see before, even before the kiss, the promotion, everything. ‘I think I understand now. I understand why you felt you had no choice but to keep quiet about your move to Meadowfield, about everything.’
‘I’m sorry, I just…’ He shrugged.
‘It’s okay.’ She smiled softly at him. And it was. It was okay. He was just trying to do his best for his family, for his gran. And she understood that. He’d put his gran first, and it had nothing to do with her. Not really. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He’d just been trying to cope, trying to do what he thought was best. Keeping her palm nestled between his cheek and his hand, she leaned forward, waiting for him to meet her before touching his lips with hers. They were softer than she remembered.
Pulling back slightly, he searched her eyes. ‘You want this? After everything I’ve told you?’
Brushing away the unruly tuft of hair from the middle of his forehead, she nodded. ‘I do.’
Zac leaned in again, bringing his free hand around the back of her neck as he kissed her.
Pulling away, Polly took his hands in hers and searched his eyes. Was this really happening? Her feelings for him had literally gone from one extreme to the other. No, that wasn’t true. She realised now that she’d been suppressing her feelings for him because she’d been hurt and angry. She realised now that she’d felt this way all along. She’d always remembered how well they used to get along, how kind he’d always been to her. Before. But now, now he’d opened up, and she’d seen a side to him she hadn’t even seen when they’d been friends. And she understood. Kind of. She understood how trapped in the middle he’d felt between his feelings for her and his loyalty and responsibility towards his family. She got that, but despite all he’d told her, she was still left with questions. ‘So, what happens now?’
Grinning, Zac nodded towards the paintbrushes. ‘We paint.’
Polly laughed. Okay, that wasn’t what she’d meant, but he was right about one thing. She did need to get the painting done and perhaps they’d had enough of the deep conversations for the time being.
26
Walking down the staircase at Pennycress Inn, Polly picked at the flecks of dried paint around her cuticles. After painting all weekend, all she could see when she closed her eyes was stark white walls. She grinned. And Zac’s face, of course.
‘Welcome back, Polly. You look happy. How was your weekend?’ Laura paused at the bottom of the staircase and looked up at her.
‘It was good, thanks. Great, even.’ Stepping into the hallway, Polly noticed a bundle of wedding magazines in Laura’s arms. ‘Ooh, are they what I think they are?’
‘Haha, yes. And these are just the tip of the iceberg.’ Laura grimaced. ‘You should see the pile I have up in our little flat. Jackson’s threatened to fashion them into some sort of coffee table, there are that many.’
‘Ah, weddings are fun to plan and there are so many options. You need all the inspiration you can get so you can choose what’s right for you.’ Polly laughed. She remembered only too well the excitement of planning her wedding to Ben, although at the time she’d been more sure about what colour napkins to have on the tables in their reception marquee than the groom himself. And look how that had turned out.
Laura glanced towards the kitchen and lowered her voice, ‘To be perfectly honest with you, I think I know exactly what I want, but I’m having too much fun looking through the magazines and reading up on other people’s big days to want the planning stage to end.’
‘What is it you’ve decided on? Or is it top secret?’
Laura looked around the hallway wistfully. ‘I want to get married here. We hosted our first wedding earlier this year, and it was so nice. Everyone had a wonderful time and I just think it would make so much sense for me and Jackson to get married here, at Pennycress. Well, to have the reception here at least.’
‘Aw, that would be really special.’ Polly smiled. The inn was such a beautiful place and the large garden at the back was stunning, even in the dreary depths of autumn, so she could only imagine how gorgeous it would be in the spring or summer. Plus, it was clear how much Pennycress meant to both Laura and Jackson. ‘It sounds like the perfect solution.’
‘It does, doesn’t it? Although I’m not sure how I’ll get the time to plan and organise it all, what with the day-to-day running of the inn. We’re busier now than we were when me and Nicola pulled off hosting our first wedding here.’ Laura wiped a finger beneath her eye. ‘Sorry, I’m getting all tearful just thinking about it, about marrying Jackson and everything.’
Reaching out, Polly rubbed Laura’s forearm. ‘You’ll find the time. I’m sure of it. And it’s understandable to get teary over it all, getting married is a big deal.’
‘Yes, it is, isn’t it?’ Laura patted the bundle of magazines in her arms. ‘I’ll still keep looking through these, though. I might get some inspiration on how to decorate or something.’
‘And ideas for your dress.’ Polly grinned.
‘I literally have no idea what dress to get. I don’t normally wear dresses, so I don’t have a clue what shape suits me or anything.’ Laura grimaced.
