Page 5 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
‘Sorry, can I just check that you said Art was an outreach and education officer?’ Polly glanced back towards the desks at the far end of the office as if half expecting him to appear on command.
‘Yes, that’s right.’ Vicki nodded before leading the way towards the other end of the office, where two more empty desks sat. ‘And this is your desk right here. Well, either of them, to be honest. You’re the first newbie to arrive so you can have first dibs.’
Polly glanced between the two empty desks and Art’s desk. Wouldn’t it make more sense for her and Art to sit together? It seemed slightly daft to have the two of them located at opposite ends of the office if he was going to be training her up.
‘Which would you like? I’d choose quickly if I were you, your colleague might arrive at any point and then you’ll be left with no choice.’ Vicki laughed, her delicate voice taking on the sound of a hyena.
‘Oh, umm.’ Polly shrugged before placing her handbag on the desk closest to where she was standing. Both desks were centred in the middle of a large window overlooking the nature reserve, although it looked as though the view from the other desk would be hindered slightly by a large shed-like structure. She felt a little bad for taking the desk with the best view, but she figured she’d worked long and hard for this opportunity and given up a ton of stuff too. Besides, as Vicki had said, she was here first.
‘Good choice.’ Vicki grinned before pointing towards an open door revealing a small kitchen leading off from the end of the office. ‘I’ll let you get settled in. Would you like a coffee?’
‘Oh, I’d love one, please.’ Polly smiled. She wasn’t too sure she actually had room for a drink after the delicious breakfast of cinnamon-sprinkled French toast and filter coffee she’d enjoyed at the inn this morning, but she didn’t want to offend her new colleague.
‘Great. I’m parched. I ran out of the door without even attempting to make one this morning. Milk? Sugar?’
‘Milk, one sugar, please.’
‘Coming right up.’ Vicki began to walk towards the kitchen before calling back over her shoulder. ‘Declan, you want a cuppa?’
As he answered, Polly wheeled her chair out from beneath the desk before sitting down. Swinging it gently from side to side, she grinned. She could get used to this comfort. It certainly beat sitting on hard miniature plastic chairs in the classroom.
Pulling herself towards her desk, she rested her elbows on the pine surface and cupped her chin in her hands. The view was stunning. From here she could see a narrow gravel pathway winding its way towards a little bridge over a stream to lead the way into the midst of the nature reserve. Trees hugged the pathway, birds fluttering from branch to branch as though on some secret mission or other.
Perfect. It may have taken five years of dedication, five years of juggling teaching with volunteering, but it had been worth it. She was out of the classroom but still able to work in her field of expertise and passion – teaching. What could be more perfect than mixing educating with nature?
Yep. She had her dream job – outreach and education officer. She might be new to the nature reserve and Meadowfield itself, but she wasn’t new to her position and what would be expected of her, she’d volunteered for five years assisting in the role. She could do this, and she couldn’t wait to get started.
Tearing her eyes from the idyllic view, she began to unpack her tote bag. She hadn’t really known what would be provided and what wouldn’t, so she’d bought a new notebook and pen set for the occasion, just to have something she could take notes in before getting to grips with where stock was kept and before she got the laptop the trust would provide. She’d also brought the photo frame holding an image of her and her grandparents. The one which had taken pride of place on her desk in the classroom for twelve years and would now take pride of place on her desk here.
Three months of being dedicated to the job in hand and she’d be promoted to project manager, which is what she needed if she were to be able to make ends meet and settle in this part of the Cotswolds.
Next, she pulled her mobile from her bag and grinned as she spotted a missed call from the estate agent. This might be just the news she’d been waiting for! Her grandparents’ flat, which she’d been struggling to sell for months now, ever since she’d been offered this job, might just have had an offer. She hadn’t heard about any viewings, but she’d been out all day Saturday and, of course, travelling here to Meadowfield yesterday, so perhaps David, the estate agent, had shown someone round on Saturday. She’d given the agency the key after all.
Everything was coming together. After months of uncertainty and living off savings, things were on the road to aligning.
‘Here you go, Polly. One coffee with sugar and milk.’ Vicki slid a large green mug onto her desk before hitching her thumb behind her. ‘You’re being summoned to the meeting room. I think the other newbie has finally arrived and Declan wants to speak to you both.’
‘Oh great. Thanks for this.’ Nodding towards the mug, Polly slipped her mobile back into her bag and stood up. She’d ring the estate agent back when she had a spare moment. Picking up her heavy mug, she headed towards another door next to the small kitchen, which she hadn’t actually noticed until Vicki had pointed it out.
5
With the large mug in one hand, Polly tapped on the door with the other, and lifted the mug to her lips. She frowned as a dribble of coffee ran over the rim and settled down the front of her shirt. Taking a quick sip, Polly lowered the mug again and brushed at the droplets of coffee, the brown liquid forming a smudge which closely imitated one of those ink pictures promising to reveal secret childhood trauma or such you see on some social media quizzes. Typical.
‘Come in.’ Declan’s cheerful voice sounded through the thin door.
After a final attempt at soaking up the coffee stain with a tissue from her pocket, Polly shoved the tissue back and opened the door. A large, very well-used pine table sat in the middle of a white-walled plain room which was barely bigger than the table itself. Squashed at one end stood a sizeable flipboard and a tiny table housing a kettle and jug of water in the corner. Declan was sitting at the far side of the table, papers in front of him and a grin spread across his face, whilst a man was sitting with his back towards her, presumably the other new addition to the team.
‘That’s it, pull up a chair. I’d like you to meet our other new team member.’ Declan indicated the chair next to the man.
As Polly approached the table, the man stood up and slowly turned around. When she saw his face, she halted. Her pulse quickened and her stomach churned, threatening to exhume the lovely breakfast she’d gobbled down a couple of hours ago. Of all the people…
‘Polly Burrows.’ He uttered her name almost before he’d turned with his hand held midway in the air, ready to offer a handshake. Pausing for a millisecond before realising she wasn’t holding hers out, the man lowered it as his steely blue eyes narrowed.
‘Zac Sinclair.’ She spat the words through her clenched jaw, her grip tightening on the handle of the mug. This couldn’t be happening. The one person she’d been glad to see the back of… no, the one person she’d been overjoyed to be leaving behind her, was here. And he was joining the team.
‘You two know each other?’ Declan slapped his forehead jovially. ‘Of course you do. You were both working at headquarters.’
‘I was working; Miss Burrows was volunteering.’ The coldness seeping into Zac’s voice was unmistakable as he sat back down, minus the handshake.
