Changing Places Read Online Free

coffee, deciding it was probably best to let her sister have a rant.
    Rachel always went on as if Anna had a great life, as though, because they had no kids, she and Liam could hop on a plane whenever they liked. Mind you, when Liam got promoted they’d
probably be able to do just that. Except, Anna reminded herself, they could hardly go gadding about if they wanted to have a family. They’d have to start putting some money by.
    Saving had never been a big issue for either of them before. Liam had his pension plan and Anna’s father had made both his daughters take out life and health insurance when they started
work, but apart from that, they lived from pay cheque to pay cheque. Maybe now they should open a proper savings account.
    ‘Anna?’
    She looked up at her sister. ‘Sorry, I was miles away.’
    ‘I was just asking if you two have made any holiday plans yet.’
    ‘Oh, we’ll probably grab one of those last-minute deals later in the summer. What about you?’
    Rachel sighed. ‘I expect we’ll take a house in Enniscrone for a couple of weeks.’
    ‘That’s nice,’ Anna said, not totally convincingly.
    ‘No, it bloody isn’t! I’ll still be cooking and cleaning, just in a different location. I would really love to go to Portugal or Spain. It would work out just as cheap, and at
least we’d be guaranteed a bit of sunshine.’
    ‘And Gary’s not keen?’
    ‘No, he hates the sun.’
    ‘That’s a pity.’
    ‘Yeah.’
    An awkward silence descended on them and Anna racked her brains for something to say that might cheer her sister up. ‘I sold a house yesterday,’ she blurted out eventually.
    ‘That’s nice.’
    ‘Yeah, I was thrilled. It was in a bit of a state and Mark had been trying to offload it for months.’
    ‘I should get a job.’ Rachel stared gloomily at the people hurrying past. ‘I miss the buzz of the office. You’ve no idea, Anna, how much easier it is than staying at
home.’
    ‘I don’t know about that, Rache—’
    ‘I do! Look, I’ve been there, remember? In an office you know your day will end at a set time and that you’ll get a lunch break and a coffee break, and when you go home, your
time is your own. But it’s completely different when you’re a mother. Sometimes I don’t even get a minute to have a cup of tea, and then there are the broken nights.’
    Anna shot her a look of disbelief. ‘But Alex is at school until one, and you’re not saying he wakes every night, are you?’
    ‘He has nightmares.’ Rachel waved a dismissive hand. ‘And while he’s at school I’m cooking and cleaning. A home doesn’t run itself, you know.’
    ‘I do know that,’ Anna said. ‘I have to do it all when I get home in the evening.’
    Rachel gave her a hard smile. ‘Ah well, you’re quite the wonder woman, aren’t you?’
    Anna put down her cup. ‘Oh, for God’s sake! I think I’d better go and do that shopping.’
    Rachel immediately stood up. ‘I need to make a move anyway.’
    ‘I’ll see you, so.’
    ‘When?’ Rachel demanded. ‘What about tomorrow? Alex hasn’t seen you for ages.’
    ‘Oh, we can’t, Rache – sorry. We’re meeting Helen and Tom for a game of tennis and then we’ll probably go for a late lunch.’
    Rachel’s smile became even more like a grimace. ‘Oh, well, drop in sometime when your busy schedule allows.’ She leaned over to brush her cheek against her sister’s.
‘Bye.’
    Anna groaned as she watched her march off towards the car park. Why was it that she always seemed to be in her little sister’s bad books? Nothing she said ever seemed to please Rachel,
Anna thought as she headed back towards the supermarket. And it wasn’t as if she deliberately tried to antagonize or bait her sister. But Rachel seemed to resent her and was always making
smart comments about Anna’s job or lifestyle.
    Anna went into the shop, grabbed a basket and wandered down an aisle flinging pre-packed vegetables into it. She felt really bad