Page 19 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
‘Oh wow, a farm. That must be fun?’ Polly brought the mug to her lips, the aroma of the sweet coffee hitting her nostrils.
‘Farm life is certainly different from what I’m used to, but I love it. Charlie only inherited it from his uncle last year, so it’s been a huge learning curve for both of us, but he’s really taken to it.’
‘Super early days then?’ After hearing tales of her grandma growing up on a farm, riding horses and driving tractors, Polly had always romanticised the idea.
‘Yes, definitely.’ Nicola grinned as she waved her hand across the table, taking in the papers, pens and highlighters scattered across the surface. ‘How’s this all going?’
‘Good, I think.’ Polly frowned. ‘I mean, my brain is finally coming up with ideas on how to raise money for the reserve. Whether any of them will actually work, though, is a completely different thing, isn’t it?’
‘Our gardener, Jill, is very good at fundraising. She’s on the community hub for the village and gets involved in all sorts. I’m sure she’d be more than happy to help if you’ve any questions.’ Nicola tilted her head as she tapped on her mobile and scrolled through to the calendar. ‘In fact, it’s Meadowfield’s village meeting tomorrow evening. Why don’t you come along? You’ll get a sense of the community and will probably get some ideas. Besides, you’re practically a resident now, being as you’re staying here for so long.’
‘Umm, maybe.’ Polly nodded thoughtfully. ‘Yes, okay. I’ll come if you don’t think it’ll be weird as I haven’t actually moved here permanently yet.’
‘Not at all.’ Nicola nodded before looking across at the kitchen door. ‘Evening, Zac. Can I get you anything?’
Twisting in her chair, Polly watched as Nicola stood up and walked across to Zac. Great, this was all she needed, him to come and sit down just as her creativity was finally flowing.
‘Just a coffee. I’m happy getting it myself.’ Zac smiled one of his signature grins reserved for anyone but Polly as he placed his briefcase carefully on the closest table.
‘Don’t be daft. Go take a seat and I’ll get you one.’ Nicola smiled as she reached for a clean mug.
‘Thanks.’ Zac looked pointedly at Polly as though weighing up his options before picking up his briefcase again and waiting as Nicola poured him a coffee.
Turning back, Polly looked out of the window into the garden. She could just see Zac’s faint reflection in the glass as he chatted with Nicola. She shook her head. Stacey didn’t know what she was talking about. If Polly brought up the kiss, it’d only make things even more awkward between them.
Returning to the table with a mug for herself, Nicola slid back into the chair she’d previously vacated. ‘Am I disturbing you?’
‘No, not at all. I need a bit of a break.’ Polly grinned. If she were honest, after spending the entire afternoon holed up in the office with the King of Cold Shoulders, she was glad of the company and the chance to talk normally with another human being.
Taking a small sip of her coffee, Nicola then lowered her mug and nodded towards the door. ‘What’s going on with you two? He couldn’t get out of here quick enough and the room temperature dropped at least fifty degrees when he walked in.’
Polly shifted in her chair as she wrapped her hands around her mug. ‘It’s that obvious?’
‘Just a little.’ Nicola grimaced. ‘Don’t share if you don’t want to, though. I’m being nosey.’
Polly took a gulp of coffee. It might be good to talk, to get a different perspective on the situation besides Stacey’s. Stacey was loyal to the bone, so maybe a neutral opinion on it all might be beneficial. ‘I don’t mind. It’ll probably be good to get someone else’s take on it, anyway.’
Nicola nodded.
Moving her coffee mug to the side, Polly placed her hands palm down on the surface of the table in front of her. ‘Right, so, I… umm used to teach part-time, while volunteering at the Cotswold Wildlife and Wilderness Trust headquarters where Zac worked.’
‘And you never got on?’ Nicola frowned.
‘No, we did. We used to get on really well and then my friend, Stacey, threw me a leaving party when I finally quit my teaching job and invited people from the trust too.’
‘Oh.’ Nicola raised her eyebrows.
‘Exactly. Zac and I both had a bit too much to drink, and we ended up kissing. I’d always had a bit of a crush on him so thought great, but he obviously felt the complete opposite because from then, things have never been the same and he now hates me.’ She turned her hands upwards. ‘And I don’t know why. I mean, mistakes happen at parties, don’t they? Especially where drink is involved. He didn’t feel the same way about me as I did about him, and that’s fine. Whatever. But it didn’t mean he had to be frosty with me.’
‘And this is how things have been between you since then?’
Polly nodded. ‘Yep. For over four months now. It’s ridiculous. You’d have thought he’d have forgotten about it by now, wouldn’t you?’
‘Maybe you should talk to him and clear the air? If things were fine between you before, then hopefully by addressing it, things should go back to how they were.’
Polly scrunched up her nose as she slid her mug back in front of her. ‘There’s an added complication now, though. We’re both pitted against each other for a promotion. One that it turns out that we’d both been promised by our old boss.’
Nicola whistled through her teeth. ‘Ah, now I can understand how that might be awkward.’
