Page 48 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
Polly nodded.
‘I’ve got the printing company on standby, so I’ll email it over to them now.’ Vicki clicked on her computer, opening the file Polly had sent everyone before the meeting and then clicking away again. ‘There. Sent.’
‘That’s great. Thank you, Vicki.’ Polly smiled before turning to the rest of the group. ‘I spoke to Jarvis and Helena when I arrived this morning, and they’re all set for this weekend. They’ve hired a food truck for the evening and are just making the finishing touches to their menu.’
‘Excellent.’ Declan rubbed his hands together. ‘And the competition? You mentioned we’d be running a competition on our stall to reel the public in, so to speak.’
‘Yep. I thought a raffle?’ Polly waited for Declan to nod his approval before continuing. ‘I’ve ordered the raffle tickets which will be delivered tomorrow, and I’ll pop to the shops after work to buy some prizes. I thought some small prizes and then a big bunny soft toy or something as the main prize.’
‘Well, it sounds as though you have everything under control.’ Declan scribbled in his notebook before glancing around the table again. ‘Is that the last of the updates?’
‘I think so, boss.’ Art glanced at the clock. ‘In fact, I’d better get going. I’ve got that meeting to get to.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Standing up, Declan bundled his papers into his arms. ‘Okay, good work, everyone. Let’s make this a fantastic week.’
‘You bet.’ Vicki grinned as Rolo crept out of his home in the sleeve of her sweatshirt and ambled across the table. ‘Not here, Mister.’
‘He’s getting a little livelier now.’ Polly waited until Vicki was holding Rolo in her hands before stroking his tiny, soft nose.
‘Oh yes. He’s certainly coming out of his shell.’ Vicki rolled her eyes. ‘I’m just glad Betty’s taken Nutkin back or I’d be run off my feet just with the two of them.’
‘Aw, he’s so cute though.’ Polly smiled as Vicki stood up.
‘Haha, looks can be deceptive. Especially when it comes to this one, unfortunately.’ Vicki laughed as she followed Declan, Art and Dennis out of the room.
Leaning across the arm of his chair, Zac nudged Polly gently with his shoulder. ‘So, shall I be putting a pet rat on your Christmas list this year?’
Grinning, she shook her head. Was he really thinking that far ahead? Okay, it was only a couple of months away, but they’d literally only just started this thing between them and they still had so many battles to get through. She looked across at him. It would be nice if their relationship did go from strength to strength, but there was so much which could go wrong.
She looked away and closed her laptop. One day at a time. That’s what she needed to do, that’s what she’d told herself she’d do.
‘That’s not a no then?’ Zac pulled out his mobile and began writing ‘Polly’s Christmas List – rat’, in the Notes app.
‘You’re not seriously writing a note about that?’ She rolled her eyes. ‘But if you are, could you add a buyer for the flat while you’re at it?’
Lowering his mobile to the table, Zac grimaced. ‘What time is the viewing today?’
‘Twelve fifteen, although if I know anything about David, it’s that he’ll leave the potential buyers hanging around, which won’t be a good thing.’ She’d been in the flat for one of the first viewings he’d organised and she’d ended up showing the couple around herself as they’d been waiting for him to arrive. Which he had, when she was showing them out of the door.
‘I’m sure it’ll be fine.’
‘Umm, I wish I had your confidence.’ Polly ran her index finger along the edge of her closed laptop. She knew the block of flats wasn’t in the best of areas and first impressions counted. Really counted when someone was looking to buy a property. ‘I’m just worried that if they’re left to their own devices, they’ll go looking around the block and might see Gina and Ken letting their dog out to pee in the hallway.’
‘Or Mr Greene’s rather impressive beer bottle collection lining his balcony?’ Zac chuckled.
‘Ah, yes, or that.’ Polly twisted in her chair to look at him. ‘Although there’s a really sweet story behind his collection. You see, his wife passed away years ago and each year, on the anniversary of her passing, he searches for a white feather and that’s where he keeps them, in beer bottles on his balcony.’
Zac covered her hand with his. ‘Oh, that is a sweet sentiment.’
Polly nodded. ‘Although I guess it still doesn’t change things. The people viewing aren’t going to know that, are they? And then there’s the small matter of the flats on my floor looking derelict.’
‘That might be a good thing, though. They might think to enquire about purchasing them too. Besides, at least the glazers were able to fit you in on Saturday.’
‘True.’ Polly nodded. That had been one expense she’d rather not have had, getting the glass in the door window replaced, and paying well over the odds for the privilege of securing her property at short notice. Still, the insurance should pay out for that. Eventually. Polly closed her laptop screen slowly, remembering how bland and unwelcoming the flat had looked after they’d finished painting. Yes, some would say it was fresh, and she could see it could be viewed in that way, but it hadn’t looked anything like her childhood home anymore. The trinkets had gone, the boldly painted walls, the very essence of her grandparents had been erased. She pinched the bridge of her nose. She guessed that was a good thing perhaps. Yes, maybe it was a good thing she, Zac and Stacey had transformed her childhood home into a blank canvas, maybe it would make it slightly easier for her to say goodbye to it when it did eventually sell. ‘And hopefully they’ll be impressed with how clean and tidy it looks inside.’
‘I’m sure they will.’ Zac lifted her fingers, white paint still engrained around her nails, to his lips.
Glancing behind her, Polly checked the meeting room door was still shut. ‘Careful, we don’t want anyone seeing.’
