Life Swap by Jane Green

Author:Jane Green
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Adult
Published: 2005-11-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

‘If I’d known how much work was involved,’ Vicky moans one evening when her sister-in-law phones to see how she’s getting on, ‘I never would have done this.’

‘What kind of work? Still sorting out your flat?’

‘How can a flat this small contain so much junk? How have I managed to accumulate this much crap in so short a time? I’ve only had this flat two years, and now it’s stuffed to the gills. I never realized how much of this stuff is completely superfluous.’ Vicky is sitting on the floor of the tiny second bedroom that doubles as her office, sifting through yet another pile.

Thus far she has found four unpaid bills, all of which are a minimum of four months old, two invitations to parties, both of which she realizes she not only missed, but never even RSVP’d, a press release about a new method of laser vein removal that she’d brought home from work, not wanting anyone to know she was about to get the spider veins in her legs treated, and had been looking for for weeks, her driving licence – how in the hell did that get there? Wasn’t it always in her bag? – and some readers’ letters that she had brought home to respond to, but that had swiftly been eaten up by the pile.

‘And what about the notes?’ Kate says. ‘How are you getting on with telling Amber how you live your life?’

‘So far I’m on page twenty-three,’ Vicky groans. ‘Does that answer your question?’

‘Sounds like far too much work to me. So are we going to see you this weekend? The kids miss you, and frankly I’m not sure how much more of their whining I can take.’

‘Nothing like a bit of guilt to get me down to the country.’ Vicky rolls her eyes. ‘Thanks, Kate.’

‘I didn’t mean it like that.’

‘Okay. Sorry. I’m just stressed. And yes, I’d love to come this weekend. I need a complete break from London, but you have to tell the kids I need a lie-in. The last thing I want to do is arrive in Connecticut next week with enormous bags under my eyes.’

‘God, it’s next week. I can’t believe you’re actually going through with it. I can’t believe it’s happening, and so soon! Oh and before I forget,’ Kate smoothly changes the subject, ‘please please please bring me some tarama from Waitrose.’

Vicky sighs. ‘How many packs this time?’

‘Can you bring ten? That way I can stick them in the freezer until you get back, although if Amber is really being you for four weeks I suppose I can always get her to bring down a load too.’

‘Why not take advantage and get her to bring down fifty?’

Kate starts cackling. ‘Do you know what, that’s a bloody good idea.’

*

Vicky goes to the bathroom and sighs as she scrapes her hair back and examines her spotty chin and bleary eyes in the mirror.

‘God,’ she mutters. ‘I’m thirty-five. I’m not supposed to still be getting bloody spots.’

She is exhausted, had no idea quite how much she would have to do.

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