Page 54 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
‘They are, mate, yes.’ Jackson crossed his arms, the tea towel he was carrying hanging from his hand. ‘I’m hopeful we’ll get it organised for next spring or summer at the latest. No need to wait, is there? Not when you find the right one?’
‘Wow, that’s not long to get everything organised.’ Polly raised her eyebrows. Had Laura mentioned to her that the wedding would be so soon?
‘It’s not, but I think we’ll be having the reception at Pennycress, so at least we won’t have to worry about booking the venue.’ Jackson chuckled. ‘And anything else, well, Nicola and Jill are star organisers, so I’m sure with a little help we’ll get everything covered. Hopefully.’
‘That’s true.’ Polly nodded.
‘Right, well, I’ll let you two eat in peace. Just shout if you need anything.’ Jackson turned and headed back to the bar.
Picking up her fork, Polly stabbed at the mash. It looked delicious, but she couldn’t help but wonder how Zac’s funding plans were coming along. They’d both been so focused on the Bonfire Night event, even during the day at the office, and although she’d seen him on the phone a few times, he’d not spoken about his work.
‘Everything okay?’ Zac shovelled another forkful of mash into his mouth before pointing at it. ‘This is the best mash I’ve tasted in a very long time.’
‘It is nice.’ Taking a small mouthful, Polly swallowed. ‘Umm, I was just going to ask how your fundraising was going? You’ve done a lot to help with the Bonfire Night event and I’ve not really asked you.’
Zac shrugged. ‘Oh, it’s going okay, thanks. I had confirmation back from the company I used to work for that they’re willing to sponsor the reserve.’
Placing her fork back on her plate, Polly reached across the table and laid her hand on his forearm. ‘That’s fantastic news! Congratulations for sealing that deal!’
‘Thanks.’ Zac mumbled as he shifted in his seat.
Frowning, Polly picked up her cutlery again. ‘Zac?’
Lowering his fork, Zac met her gaze. ‘Yes?’
‘I don’t want this promotion to become something weird between us. We should be able to celebrate each other’s wins. You suggested having dinner to celebrate the sale of my grandparents’ flat and getting organised for the Bonfire Night, but we should be celebrating your wins too.’
Zac gave a short smile. ‘What I’ve done is nothing. I got in touch with a few contacts with a sponsorship proposal, that’s all. What you’ve done, coming up with these ideas to raise awareness of the reserve and to raise money, it’s much more.’
Polly shook her head slowly. She wouldn’t have had the first clue how to approach companies to ask for sponsorship deals, let alone what to write in a proposal to entice them or how to draw up contracts. ‘No, it’s not. What you’re doing for the reserve is amazing, and the amount of money you raise will make a huge difference to what we can offer our visitors and the rewilding projects we’ll be able to invest in.’
Tilting his head from side to side, Zac sighed. ‘Maybe, but what you’re doing will make a difference to the lives of people who begin coming to the reserve, as well as make sure there are funds in place long term.’
Reaching across the table again, Polly held her hand up, waiting until he’d taken her hand in his before carrying on. What she wanted to say was important, and she wanted him to realise it too. ‘Zac, I really don’t want this promotion to come between us. I know it’s super early days and either one of us could walk away tomorrow…’
‘I hope not.’ Zac gave her hand a squeeze. ‘We may have only just got together officially, but we’ve both felt this, certainly since the night of your leaving party. Or I know I have.’
‘I have too.’ And before. ‘Which is why I want to make sure we talk about it, that we can celebrate each other’s wins.’
‘Okay.’ Zac nodded.
‘So, no more talking down your own achievements?’
‘I won’t. I promise.’ Zac ran his palm across his face. ‘It’s just difficult, isn’t it? It feels so wrong to compete with you.’
‘But we’re not.’ Polly moved the salt shaker an inch. ‘Not really. I mean, I know only one of us will be put forward for the promotion, but what we’re doing at work, what we’re doing for the reserve, we’d be doing even if there wasn’t a promotion available. We’d be doing our best for the reserve and the animals and nature there, wouldn’t we?’
‘Yes, you’re right. We would be.’
‘So, we don’t need to feel guilty about our own wins.’ Polly hoped it had come across as a statement rather than a question because, she, for one, knew she felt guilty. Yes, she wanted the promotion, she needed the money, but so did Zac and she could see how much it meant to him too. They were in an impossible situation and the only way through she could think of was to pretend as though it wasn’t happening and that meant cheering each other on just as they would be if the promotion didn’t exist.
‘Hey, Declan might choose someone from outside the team, anyway.’ Zac raised his eyebrows. ‘So there’s literally no reason for us to be tying ourselves up in knots, feeling happy for each other when things go right, but feeling guilty when we get the win.’
‘Ha, true.’ She smiled. He was right. All of this might be for nothing, anyway. She swallowed. She wasn’t sure what that would mean for her and her future here in Meadowfield, but at least it meant Zac wasn’t her only competition and she could hopefully push the promotion to the back of her mind when she was with him and focus on their fledgling romance instead. ‘No more thinking about the promotion, then?’
‘No more thinking about the promotion.’ Picking up his glass, he held it up towards her. ‘Here’s to focusing on us.’
‘To us.’ Taking her own glass, she clinked it against his and grinned, suddenly feeling a little lighter.
