Chapter 31
‘Zac, what do you think of these for the new display in the foyer?’ Wheeling her chair across to Zac’s desk, Polly placed her laptop on his desk.
‘The information boards?’ Zac began scrolling through the photographs on the screen.
‘Yes. I found them in the trust’s archives and thought they might be a good focus.
I was trying to find the most interesting examples of how the reserve has changed and big events here.
’ She’d spent the last two days trawling through photographs and articles about the reserve, struggling to find anything much to write about.
That was until she discovered a huge fire had taken hold in the visitor centre fifteen years ago and destroyed much of the natural habitat around the building.
Not that anybody would realise if they visited now, as the ranger and team had done an amazing job of bringing the reserve back to life.
‘Well, these are certainly interesting, for sure. I wasn’t aware of half these things – the fire, the rewilding scheme of native trees, the fact the Queen had visited.’ Zac widened his eyes. ‘I think they’re fab. I can’t wait to read what you write about them.’
‘You definitely don’t think these topics will bore visitors?
’ Polly chewed on her bottom lip. This was her chance – their chance – to help the reserve come alive to the visitors, their chance to instil pride in the local community, and she really didn’t want to mess it up.
‘I know not everyone who comes in here will read them, but I’m just hoping a few will glance at the photos and want to find out a little more. ’
Zac smiled. ‘I think they’re great. Really great. You’ve definitely got an eye for this, and I think the majority of people will want to read more.’
‘I hope so.’ Taking her laptop back, Polly closed the screen but stayed where she was. ‘How about you? How are you getting on?’
‘Good, thanks.’ He shrugged. ‘Well, okay anyway. I had two “thanks but no thanks” this morning but have set up a telephone conversation tomorrow with another firm. I used to work closely with them when I was in my marketing job, so I’m hopeful.’
Polly crossed her fingers. ‘That’s great. You’ll get it.’
‘I hope so.’ Zac nodded.
Leaning forward, Polly kissed him before pulling back quickly and glancing around the office, relieved to see that everyone else had their heads buried in their laptops. ‘Sorry, I completely forgot where I was then.’
Grinning, Zac raised his eyebrows. ‘No need to apologise to me. I’d be happy to shout it from the rooftops.’
Smiling, Polly tapped her laptop. ‘Best get back to it.’
After wheeling her chair back, Polly opened her laptop again, pretending to concentrate on the screen in front of her whilst she glanced at Zac.
Maybe she was being paranoid. Perhaps there wasn’t any reason their relationship would be frowned upon by their colleagues.
Besides, they were working and basically living together, being as they were both staying at Pennycress, so spending their whole time together, there were bound to be more slip-ups like that one.
It was only a matter of time before one of their teammates found out.
‘No, no, no.’ Wheeling her chair back from her desk, Vicki began pushing her collection of photo frames to the side of her desk.
‘Everything okay?’ Art called across the office.
‘No, I can’t find Rolo. He was here, literally just sleeping in my sleeve as he always does, and now, I can’t find him.’ Vicki dropped to her knees and crawled under her desk.
‘Don’t worry, we’ll find him. He can’t have got out.’ Polly glanced behind her, checking he wasn’t behind her chair, before pushing it back and standing up.
‘Dennis and Declan went out a few minutes ago, though, and I don’t know when he went missing.’ Vicki scraped her dark hair back into a ponytail before crawling around the floor.
‘I’ll go outside and see if he’s in the foyer. He’ll be scared if he’s got out and I’m sure he won’t have got far.’ Zac stood up and headed for the door, cautiously pulling it open and slipping through.
Slowly walking around the edge of the room, Polly ducked her head to look beneath the desks and bookcases. Rolo could be anywhere. Literally. He was fast, super-fast, and he could climb too.
‘I can’t believe I let this happen.’ Vicki placed her hands over her face. ‘They trust me at the sanctuary and now I’ve gone and let them down, but, more importantly, I’ve put a defenceless baby in danger.’
Making her way across to Vicki as Art continued searching the office, Polly knelt down and wrapped her arms around her colleague.
‘Hey, you’ve let no one down. What you do for those animals is amazing.
This is just a glitch and something we’ll all be laughing about in a few minutes when he’s found. ’
‘But he’s so fast. And sneaky too. I caught him on top of one of my kitchen cupboards yesterday evening after I’d let him out of his enclosure for a little runaround. I thought he’d be safe in there and now, now I’ve not even learned from that mistake. I’ve let it happen again. I can’t be trusted.’
‘You can. You can be trusted more than any of us here.’ Polly rubbed Vicki’s back.
‘She’s right. Can you imagine how long Dennis would last looking after a baby rat?’ Art chuckled as he ran his hand over the tops of the books on the shelves. ‘He’d have lost Rolo in a day, and I wouldn’t have done much better.’
‘Nor me. You’re doing a fab job with him, with all the animals you care for, and it’s only a matter of time before we find him.’ Polly leaned back as Vicki wiped her sleeve across her eyes.
‘Okay, okay, let’s find him.’ Standing up, Vicki began searching again.
Polly walked across to the meeting room door, slipping through it before looking beneath the table and chairs and behind the small refreshment table. There was no sign of the small furry creature.
Heading back into the office, Polly was careful to keep her eyes on the floor as she shut the door.
The last thing they needed was for them to think the meeting room had been searched and then Rolo to have sneaked in as she walked out.
She glanced around the office. Both Vicki and Art were still searching, one either side as they made their way methodically down the room.
‘I’ll go and help Zac out in the foyer.’
‘Thanks,’ Vicki called as she scrambled across the floor, running her hand beneath the photocopier.
Making her way into the foyer, Polly closed the office door quietly behind her and watched as Zac looked beneath the benches on either side of the large foyer. ‘Any luck?’
‘Not a sign.’ Shaking his head, Zac stood up and walked towards the glass doors leading outside.
‘Do you think he may have got out into the reserve?’ Polly joined him, watching as rain lashed against the window.
If Rolo had ventured outside for the first time today, he’d have been petrified at the vastness and at the weather too.
He’d had an easy life growing up with Vicki caring for him and he wasn’t anywhere near being ready to be released.
‘I hope not.’ Zac shook his head. Then a screech from Vicki filled the room. ‘Let’s hope that means she’s found him.’
Polly nodded as they both made their way back to the office, Zac holding the door open for her. ‘Thanks. Have you found him, Vicki?’
‘Yes, he’s here. Art found him nibbling at the bag of sugar on the work surface.’ Grinning, Vicki held the small rat aloft before tucking him in her sleeve. ‘I’m going to have to make him an enclosure here from now on. I don’t think I can cope with this stress every day.’
‘That’s a good idea. I’m sure we can find something to use. In fact, I’m sure I saw an old fish tank in the classroom when we were shown around?’ Zac glanced towards the door.
‘Ah yes! That would be perfect! Thank you. I’ll go and grab that.’ Vicki began walking towards the door.
‘I’ll help.’ After letting the bag of sugar drop into the bin, Art joined her.
‘Oh actually. Could one of you look after him for me? It’s probably not a great idea taking him into the classroom after the stunt he’s just pulled.’ Vicki grimaced as she turned back towards Polly and Zac.
‘I’ll take him.’ Holding his hands out, Zac waited until Rolo had scurried out from Vicki’s sleeve and into Zac’s cupped hands before he gently closed them.
‘Thank you, Zac. You’re a star.’ Vicki jogged across to where Art was standing in the open doorway. ‘We’ll be quick, I promise.’
Sitting back down, Polly watched as Zac took his seat again and held open the sleeve of his sweatshirt for Rolo, who immediately ran up and curled up in the crook of his arm. ‘Aw, he likes you. He feels safe.’
‘You think? Or maybe he’s just tired after all the excitement and chaos.’ Zac grinned.
‘No, he definitely likes you. He wouldn’t have gone straight to sleep if he didn’t feel comfortable.
’ Polly leaned across and touched Zac on the arm.
The last few days had been perfect, a mixture of working at the reserve, going out for dinner and generally spending as much time together as they could.
They were definitely making up for lost time.
‘You look deep in thought.’ Zac smiled as he settled back against his chair, careful not to bend his arm or disturb Rolo.
‘I’m just thinking about how everything’s turned out. When I saw you here on our first day, I’ve got to admit I didn’t relish the thought of working with you…’
‘Charming!’
‘No, you know what I mean. Things were… odd between us.’ Polly glanced out of the large window in front of them as Harold strode through the rain with his hood down, as though he hadn’t even noticed how bad the weather was today.
‘You know, since the kiss. And I just never thought we’d be in this position. ’
‘You mean in a relationship?’ He looked across at her, his lips twitching into a smile.
‘Yes, exactly.’ She nodded.