Page 52 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
‘As realistic as a thirty-centimetre fluffy spider can look, you mean?’ He chuckled.
Holding it up, she stared back at the eight large eyes looking at her. ‘I think I’d run a mile or burn the place down if I found a real one of these.’
‘Nah, I’d protect you.’ Walking across to her, he took the spider from her before putting it into the trolley he was pushing.
‘I believe you, thousands wouldn’t.’ She grinned as she watched him continue to the next shelf and pick up toy after toy, inspecting them. They’d come straight from the office and after hurrying to the local shopping precinct only to find the toy shop had closed down months ago, they’d driven past a retail park with one of those giant supermarket-sized toy shops and forty-five minutes later they had chosen the majority of the toys they’d need for the raffle. ‘I remember one of your first days working at the trust when you screamed because you’d found a spider’s nest by your desk.’
‘Oh, I’m sure I wouldn’t have screamed.’ Zac grimaced.
‘Haha, it was definitely a scream.’
‘Wasn’t it more like a tiny, terrified exclamation?’ Zac paused in front of her, turning so his back was against the trolley, his lips twitching as he tried not to laugh.
She grinned. ‘You can call it that if you like. Yes, a terrified exclamation, but not tiny. It was loud. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr Bob almost called the police.’
‘Okay, a terrified exclamation it is then.’ Chuckling, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. ‘Is that when you first realised you wanted to get into a relationship with me?’
‘Haha, nice try. It was when I realised how much fun it would be to hide a plastic spider in your drawer.’ Polly laughed at the memory. She’d spent almost an hour searching through the nursery classroom at school for a plastic toy spider after teaching one day, but it had been worth it. His reaction had been almost as priceless as his reaction to the spider’s nest.
Dropping his arms, he covered his mouth with one hand. ‘That was you?’
‘It was.’ She nodded.
‘I blamed Mr Bob for that. For almost two years I blamed him.’ Shaking his head, Zac grinned. ‘Wow, my respect for you has just multiplied by a million or so.’
‘You forgive me, then?’ Batting her eyelids, she tilted her head.
‘Umm, let me see.’ Tapping his cheek with his forefinger as he walked backwards, pulling the trolley along, Zac looked at her. ‘Perhaps I will, if you play your cards right.’
‘And what might that look like?’ Stepping towards him, she took his hand in hers as she tried to keep her tone serious.
He lowered his voice, talking softly, the laughter and fun of a few seconds ago dissipating. ‘You forgive me for acting like a complete eejit and making the worst mistake of my life by pushing you away?’
Scrunching up her nose, Polly nodded. ‘I’ve already forgiven you.’
‘Then let’s call it a truce.’
‘A truce it is, then.’ Polly leaned forward and kissed him before spotting a large soft toy squirrel on the shelf behind him. Stepping away, she pointed. ‘Look, a super-sized Nutkin! How perfect will that be for the main raffle prize?’
‘Now, Vicki will love that.’ Zac turned.
‘She definitely will.’ Picking up the large stuffed squirrel, Polly laughed as the bushy tail tickled her nose. ‘This will be our main attraction at the raffle.’
Zac began pushing the trolley again. ‘Time for some dinner?’
‘Yes please, I’m starving. I think I still need to make up for all the calories I used up painting over the weekend.’ Pushing the other toys to one end of the trolley, Polly sat the squirrel down, facing Zac.
‘At least it was worth it. The viewing went well.’
‘Absolutely. I think I’d have cried if it didn’t.’ Pulling her hair over one shoulder, Polly ran her nails over the blobs of paint in her hair. ‘I’m still covered in the stuff.’
‘You still look beautiful. Paint or no paint.’ Zac grinned before raking his fingers through his own hair. ‘I think I got splattered too, but then again, I might just be greying.’
Shaking her head, Polly stood on her tiptoes to take a look. ‘Umm, maybe a mixture.’
‘Oi!’ Turning to her, he tickled her under the arm.
Flinging her arms down to her sides, Polly pursed her lips, trying her best not to screech as a parent and toddler walked by. ‘Nope, nope, nope. Don’t you dare tickle me, not unless you want me to go round the reserve tomorrow and find a real spider to stick in your drawer.’
