Page 67 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
‘Yep, all good.’ Polly smiled across at him, hoping that Declan could keep this promise of not saying anything. She would tell Zac, but not now. When the time was right.
‘Shall we catch that film at the cinema we missed last week?’ Zac grinned.
‘Umm, I can’t tonight.’ Polly wheeled her chair in closer to her desk, keeping her eyes fixed on the screen of her laptop. ‘I’ve got to go back to the flat. Sort some things out.’
‘Oh, is the sale moving that quickly? I can run you there straight after work, and we should easily have three or four hours before coming back to Meadowfield.’
‘No, because I…’ She pulled her laptop closer and opened a new window on the screen. She hated lying, and she was sure he could see straight through her, but it was for the best. It was the only way. ‘I’ve arranged to have tomorrow off.’
‘That’s a good idea. I can see if I can get it off too.’ Pushing his chair back, Zac stood up.
‘No!’ Polly steadied her voice as she took hold of Zac’s hand. ‘No, it’s fine. I’ve arranged to meet Stacey.’
‘Is it a teacher training day tomorrow?’ Zac smiled as he sat back down.
‘Er, no, but I’m going to catch up with her after school.’ Now that wasn’t a lie. She would catch up with her when she finished work, but to dissect the interview rather than anything else.
‘That’ll be nice, then. I know I kind of got in the way of you both catching up when we were decorating.’
Polly shook her head. ‘You didn’t. I really appreciate everything you did for me that weekend. You know that, don’t you?’
‘Of course I do. You’ve told me enough times and, like I’ve said, it was my pleasure.’ Zac looked down at his phone as it began to ring. Holding it up, he stood up before whispering, ‘Wish me luck. We might just have another sponsorship deal if this call goes right.’
‘Good luck,’ Polly whispered before turning to look out of the window. How was she going to get through until tomorrow without blurting something out? She would because she was doing this for him, for their relationship, and if he found out, he’d likely quit on the spot to save her from walking away.
38
‘Eek, this is so exciting! I still can’t believe you’ve decided to come back to us!’ Stacey waited until Polly had clicked her seatbelt in before starting the engine.
‘Thanks again for convincing Mrs Jedd to fit me in for the interview today.’ Polly pulled down the sun visor and checked her reflection. She hadn’t slept much at all last night, and it hadn’t been because it was the first time she’d been in the flat alone since the break-in. But she still hadn’t changed her mind. She knew this was the right thing to do, the right thing for her relationship with Zac. She just needed to get through today, to get through the interview. That was all. Once the interview was over and she’d secured the job, she knew she’d feel better. ‘Does this look okay? I’m so used to wearing sweatshirts around the reserve, it feels odd to wear something smart again.’
‘You look fab. Very professional.’ Pulling out of the car park next to the block of flats, Stacey joined the slow queue of traffic. ‘And you know Mrs Jedd, she jumped at the chance of interviewing you. She knows you’re a great teacher and today is just to tick a box. You’ve got this job.’
‘I wish I could be as confident as you are. I’ve not done a teaching interview for over ten years, and I’ve only had a couple of days to prepare a sample lesson.’ Polly pulled her tote bag up from where she’d placed it on the floor and checked she had her folder containing the copies of the lesson plan and the resources she’d managed to print off at work without Zac noticing.
‘Honestly, Pols, you literally have this, and the best thing is, Ben isn’t going to be interviewing you. He’s gone to his new school for some taster day or something.’
‘Really? That’s a relief.’ Letting her tote bag slip to the floor again, Polly leaned her head back against the headrest. At least she wouldn’t have to contend with her ex’s smug face, thinking she couldn’t hack it in the ‘big, wide world’, as he used to refer to life outside of teaching. Plus, she had been worried that he’d have chosen someone else to give the job to just out of spite, as she’d always got the feeling he’d assumed she’d left because they’d split. Which, of course, she hadn’t. Yes, working in the same school had been difficult for a while, but once the new school year had come around and Mrs Jedd had shifted them around year groups, things had become easier.
‘Haha, thought it might be.’ Stacey glanced at her before clicking on her indicator. ‘So, are you going to tell me the real reason you’ve decided to move back? You and the lovely Zac haven’t split up already, have you?’
Polly opened her eyes and shook her head. ‘No, we’re still very much together.’
‘Then why? I thought that was what you wanted, the new start in a nice little village, a job in conservation? You worked hard enough for it, and what? Now you’re just going to quit and come back home, back to your old job? Your old life?’
Polly looked out of the windscreen, watching the rhythmic swoosh of the windscreen wipers displacing the rain. ‘Something like that.’
‘Umm, I don’t believe you. You were so set on making this change.’ Stacey held her fingers up, away from the steering wheel. ‘Not that I’m complaining. I want nothing more than to have my bestie back in town and back at work, but something’s going on.’
Polly kept quiet, focusing on the windscreen wipers. She knew that whatever she said, Stacey would see right through her, she always did.
‘This has something to do with Zac. I know it does.’ Finally reaching the roundabout, Stacey turned onto a quieter street as they made their way further from the town centre. ‘It does. I just don’t understand what.’
‘It’s nothing,’ Polly mumbled, hoping Stacey would drop the conversation.
‘No, it isn’t nothing.’ She tapped the steering wheel before glancing at her. ‘This is about the promotion, isn’t it? Did he get it?’
‘Nothing’s been decided yet. The decision won’t be made until Declan retires.’ At least she was on safe ground now. She didn’t have to attempt to spin anymore lies.
