Chapter 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.
Indicating, Stacey swerved the car and pulled up on the side of the road as the car behind them sounded its horn.
‘What are you doing? We can’t be late.’ Polly frowned. They were nowhere near the school.
‘We won’t be late. This is me. I’m never late for anything.’ Unclicking her seatbelt, Stacey turned to face Polly.
‘What? Have I got lipstick on my teeth or something?’ Pulling the visor down again, Polly pulled her lips back and scrubbed at her teeth. Not that she could see anything on them. She looked back towards Stacey.
‘No, you do not have lipstick on your teeth.’ Stacey rolled her eyes.
‘Then what? And why do you suddenly look so mad with me?’ Polly frowned. The last thing she wanted to do was to upset her friend. Zac was going to be annoyed with her when he found out what she’d done. She needed Stacey in her corner.
‘I am mad at you because I’ve just figured out what you’re playing at.’
‘I’m not playing at anything.’ Polly tried to look away, but Stacey caught her gaze again. Great, this was it. She’d had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to keep this from her.
‘You’re quitting so Zac can take the promotion. I can’t believe that man! And to think I thought he was good for you.’ Stacey shook her head vehemently and brushed her hair from her face. ‘What a low-level rat.’
‘No, he’s not. You’ve got it all wrong.’
‘Huh, not from where I’m sitting.’ She held out her hand. ‘Here, give me your phone. I want to give him a piece of my mind.’
Gripping her mobile tightly in her hand, Polly shook her head. She’d have to come clean now. ‘It’s not what you think. Zac doesn’t know I’ve quit.’
Dropping her hand to her lap, Stacey stared at her. ‘You’re making no sense. No sense at all.’
‘He has a lot more riding on this promotion than I do. If he doesn’t get the rise, his gran will have to move nursing homes or else his parents will have to put the family home up for sale.’ She spoke quietly, hoping Stacey would understand.
‘But you’re missing out on what you wanted? Why? He’s a grown man. He can sort things out for himself.’
‘I know, but I…’ Polly whispered the rest of the sentence. ‘I think I love him.’
Sitting heavily back in her seat, Stacey let out a long, slow breath. ‘You think you love him?’
Polly shook her head and looked out of the window, watching a cyclist mounting the path to cycle around them.
‘I know that I love him, and I don’t want him to go through what I had to with my grandma.
I don’t want him to have to worry about money like I did.
I want him to be able to enjoy the time he has left with her.
And if I still worked at the reserve, and he got the promotion, I know he’d feel bad for me and that would come between us.
I don’t want anything to ruin what we have. It’s taken us long enough to get here.’
‘Oh, Polly.’
She glanced across at Stacey. ‘You’re not going to have a go at me?’
‘Would it do any good?’
‘No.’
‘Then there’s no point. But I’m warning you, he’ll find out and he’s not going to be happy about it either.’
‘I know.’ Polly took a deep breath in. She’d have to cross that bridge when she came to it.
She just needed a little more time to think of a way to present this to him, to show him she’d done it for the both of them and that she’d be happy teaching again.
Because, given time, she was sure she could be.
If she just didn’t let the unnecessary paperwork and politics stress her out this time round, she could be.
Things would be better. Yes, the reserve would always have a special place in her heart but she was doing this for the right reasons and she’d learn to live with the sacrifice.
She knew she would. ‘Now, can you please start driving again before I’m late for my interview? ’
‘Fine. Whatever.’ Stacey clicked her seatbelt back on. ‘I still think this is a mistake.’
‘I know.’ Polly nodded. ‘I’ll ply you with coffee and cake as an after-school snack whilst we mark together and I know you’ll come round.’