Page 61 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
‘I love this time of the year.’ Polly grinned as she looked across the green towards a small coffee shop, which, if the A-frame sign advertising their specials standing proudly on the path below the Victorian-style street lamp was anything to go by, was still open despite the fact it was now early evening. After spending the day working hard in the office, she was glad they’d decided to wander into the centre of Meadowfield. Not only was it a good way to break up the working week, but it also meant spending some alone time with Zac. ‘Do you fancy grabbing a drink?’
‘Good idea.’ Pausing at the edge of the path as a car crawled past, Zac then took her hand as they crossed. ‘I honestly think this is my favourite time of the year. It’s cooler, the colours are beautiful and, of course, there’s Christmas just around the corner.’
‘Ah, yes, Christmas.’ Polly nodded. If she was honest, she’d not given it a moment’s thought. She’d spent last year by her grandma’s side… She gripped Zac’s hand a little tighter.
After stepping onto the path weaving its way across the green, Zac paused, bringing them to a halt, and turned towards her, concern etched across his face. ‘Sorry, I can only imagine how painful last Christmas was.’
Taking a deep breath in, Polly scrunched up her nose. Christmas had been both her grandparents’ favourite time of the year and she knew they’d want her to find new traditions and try to enjoy the season again. It would be difficult, but she knew she owed them that much. And after the urgent hospital trip last night, she was only too aware this year would be difficult for Zac too.
Reaching out, Zac tucked his forefinger beneath her chin and gently tilted her head so she was looking at him. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that up.’
Bringing her hand to his, Polly smiled. ‘No, it’s fine. It will be difficult… different, but Christmas was always such a big celebration in our home and I know I need to carry on my grandparents’ love of it.’
‘What did you used to do?’
As they began walking again, she felt his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side. ‘Ever since I moved in with them, every Christmas Eve, Mr Greene and his wife would host a party. They’d invite everyone from our block of flats and have Christmas music blaring whilst people chatted over mini quiches and trifle. Then, at midnight, my grandad would suddenly look out of the window and declare he’d spotted the glow from Rudolph’s nose in the sky as he pulled Santa’s sleigh towards us. Of course that had the desired effect and any children present were quickly bundled back home to bed.’
Chuckling, Zac shook his head. ‘I can imagine.’
‘Yes, and then on the big day itself, I’d wake up to find a stocking on the end of my bed and huge white boot prints leading to more presents under the Christmas tree.’ She smiled as she crunched through a pile of fallen leaves, their colours bright beneath the streetlamp. ‘The rest of the day would be filled with my grandad getting increasingly frustrated as he tried to put together whatever toy I’d been desperate for that year before the three of us curled up on the sofa and watched back-to-back Christmas movies.’
Pulling her towards him a little more, Zac planted a kiss on the top of her head. ‘That sounds perfect.’
‘How about you?’
Glancing away, Zac shrugged slightly. ‘Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were filled with family dinners and charity events. It was Boxing Day and the day which followed which have always been my favourite. My parents would leave for some engagement or other and drop me round my grandparents’ house. Of course, they knew how my parents celebrated, so they’d put on another Christmas especially for me. A traditional Christmas, complete with a stocking, board games and movies. And, of course, chocolate for breakfast the next day.’
Stopping, Polly twisted in his embrace so she was looking at him. ‘Maybe we could begin our own traditions this year?’
Zac grinned as he wrapped his other arm around her waist too. ‘I’d like that. I bet Jill and the community hub here put on some amazingly Christmassy events.’
‘Yes, I bet they do.’ Standing on her tiptoes, Polly pecked him on the lips before nodding towards the café as she spotted a woman clearing tables. ‘We should probably hurry, they look as though they’re beginning to close up for the evening.’
Taking her hand, Zac waited until they’d both turned back towards the café before glancing down and kicking at the leaves beneath his feet. ‘Just so you know, I really am glad the last few months are behind us and we can focus on our future.’
Snapping her head towards him, Polly widened her eyes. He’d said ‘our future’. Yes, they’d just been speaking about making Christmas plans, but this… What he’d said was something else entirely. The words ‘our future’ meant he viewed their relationship – however ridiculously new – as something special, as something more. She grinned as she felt the flutter of excitement in the pit of her stomach. He felt the same way she did. After knowing him for over two years, she supposed it was only natural that now they’d finally got together, it wasn’t a surprise that they both knew they wanted to be in it for the long haul. Still, to hear him say it was special.
She swallowed. ‘Me too.’
* * *
As they made their way through the garden gate towards Pennycress, Polly gripped her takeaway cup in one hand, the comforting cinnamon aroma of the pumpkin spice being carried on the slight crisp breeze, filling her lungs with the signature autumnal fragrance. After he’d closed the wrought-iron gate behind them, she slipped her hand in Zac’s again and was grateful as he tucked their clasped hands into the pocket of his coat, the thick fabric warming her skin. She took a sip of her latte as she glanced around them. With the light from the street lamp out on the road and the low hanging moon in the sky illuminating their garden, she grinned. She wanted to remember this evening for the rest of her life. The evening Zac had said he could see a future with her.
After walking up the steps, Zac gently took his hand from hers and pulled open the door, the warmth from inside escaping.
‘Thanks.’ As soon as the front door had closed behind them, Polly heard Laura’s voice call out from the kitchen.
‘Polly? Zac? Is that you two?’ Appearing in the open doorway, Laura gripped a cake tin between her oven-gloved hands. ‘I’ve just taken an apple and caramel cake out of the oven, would you both like some?’
‘Ooh, sounds good. And it smells delicious.’ Polly grinned. Dinner suddenly felt like a long time ago and the cake would be a perfect complement to their lattes.
‘Great. I must warn you though, it’s a bit of an experiment. It’s the first time I’ve made it and although I followed Nicola’s mum’s recipe to the letter, I can’t promise anything.’ Laura grimaced. ‘So if you have an important meeting tomorrow or something, it’s probably best you decline to avoid all risk of food poisoning.’
Shaking his head, Zac chuckled. ‘I’m sure it’ll be great. Polly’s right, it smells good.’
Laughing, Laura turned away again before calling over her shoulder. ‘Okay, you have been warned. I’ll bring some through.’
Walking across the hallway towards the sitting room, Polly paused. She was sure she could hear voices, and as if to prove she wasn’t mistaken, Miss Cooke’s voice boomed through the wooden door. She glanced at Zac and frowned. Did they really want to disturb Miss Cooke?
