Life Swap by Jane Green Page A

return eighty per cent of their calls, and they only take on a handful of clients at a time.’
    Deborah nudges Amber. ‘See? You should have waited. Richard’s already having a fit about how much money they’re costing.’
    There’s a pause. ‘Oh.’ Suzy raises an eyebrow. ‘You’re using Amberley Jacks?’
    Amber shrugs apologetically.
    ‘Well!’ She sniffs in an attempt to hide her jealousy. ‘You’re very lucky to have got them, I must say. You’re going to be the envy of all the town. Girls, I have to go and socialize, excuse me, but help yourself to Diet Coke.’
    ‘You are so bad!’ Amber turns to Deborah who flashes an evil grin.
    ‘I know!’ she chuckles. ‘But I couldn’t help it. God, she’s such a desperate social climber. Dolce & bleedin’ Gabbana. Who does she think she is? I’m surprised she didn’t tell us exactly how much her outfit cost.’
    ‘I’m sure she would have done if we’d shown a bit of interest,’ Amber laughs.
    ‘Did you see her face when I told her you were using Amberley Jacks?’ Deborah rubs her hands together. ‘Talk about ruining her birthday party.’ Deborah turns around and sees Suzy talking closely to three other women, all of them looking over at Amber. Deborah gives them a small wave and turns back to Amber. ‘Don’t look now but I think you’ll find the whole room’s going to know about Amberley Jacks any second.’
    ‘Oh God,’ Amber groans, suddenly tired of trying to keep up. She turns to Deborah with a sigh. ‘Can’t we just give it all up and go and live in Vermont? Don’t you get tired of all this?’
    ‘Nope. I love it,’ Deborah says lightly. ‘But that’s because I don’t get involved. Actually I can’t get involved. Haven’t got the money, and that’s probably why I enjoy it so much. Look, you’ve got to admit it’s ridiculous. Someone should write a book about it. Social Climbers in Suburbia. Bet you that would be a bestseller.’
    ‘I wish I could be more like you.’ Amber sighs. ‘Sometimes I can look at it and see how awful it is, but other times I feel so insecure, and it’s as if the clothes, and the jewels and all that superficial stuff is like armour, it protects me, makes me pretend I’m as good as all of them.’
    ‘But you are as good as all of them.’ Deborah’s voice is suddenly serious. ‘In fact, no, Amber, you’re much better. I know you feel insecure with them, but life isn’ta competition, you know that, and you’re a real person, which is more than can be said for Suzy. You have a wonderful husband, two gorgeous children and a fantastic best friend,’ she grins. ‘The trick is to surround yourself with the good people and not to get involved in all the crap, other than for anthropological reasons, of course.’
    ‘You know, you’re right,’ Amber says firmly, standing up as she prepares to lead Jared and Gracie in for the requisite birthday pizza and cake. ‘After this gala, that’s it. I’m done. No more charities. No more mixing with people who care about stuff like that. I’m going to change my life.’
    ‘That’s it!’ Deborah says, clapping her hands. ‘See? You can do it.’
    ‘But…’ And Amber turns to her with a worried look. ‘Do you really think it’s possible to get away from all of that in a town like Highfield?’
    Deborah shrugs. ‘I manage,’ she smiles. ‘And if not there’s always Vermont.’

Chapter Eight
    Vicky got back into bed after the third session with Jamie and, smiling, went to sleep. They’d had breakfast, read the papers together – oh what bliss, wasn’t this what she had always wanted? – and gone back to bed.
    Jamie has been everything she thought he would be, and when he leaves, saying he’ll call her later, she immediately phones Deborah to tell her the good news.
    ‘Swear you won’t tell anyone,’ she starts, as Deborah yawns down the phone.
    ‘Let me guess. You’ve just shagged Jamie Donnelly.’
    Vicky is shocked into silence.