Laina Turner - Presley Thurman 05 - Gems & Gunshots by Laina Turner Read Free Book Online

kids; just us. There was a point where we did want to start a family, but I wasn’t able to get pregnant, and there weren’t all the options there are today with in vitro and things like that, and Greg was against adoption. So, it’s just been us. How long have you and Cooper been together?” she asked, shifting the focus to me.
    “I’ve known him since high school, but we’ve only been dating for the last year off and on. We kind of reconnected unexpectedly. With me living in Chicago and him out here, it’s been a challenge. Anyone who makes the long distance thing work has my admiration.”
    “You should make it easy; just move out here.”
    “We’ve talked about it. It’s just such a big step.” I took a sip of my coffee and she was right. “This is delicious. So, how long have you and Greg been in the jewelry business?”
    “Greg bought Gemstone’s Unlimited about five years ago, I think. It had been a family–owned jewelry store for years and they were facing bankruptcy. So Greg bought the business and turned it around—he is so good at that—and now it’s profitable. I thought he was getting ready to try and find a buyer for it so he could move on to another business, but with all that’s happened the last couple days, I don’t know how feasible that will be. I doubt people will be interested in acquiring a business that had an employee murdered in the shop.”
    “That will die down, but why would he sell it? And why would you want him to? The discount must be fantastic,” I teased.
    Amelia smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’s what Greg does. He buys failing businesses that have potential and once their profitable he sells them.”
    “It’s the challenge of turning them around that motivates him then?”
    “Greg certainly loves a challenge,” she replied sadly.
    I could sense she wasn’t as happy as when we had first started talking. “Is something wrong Amelia? If I’m being too nosy, I apologize.”
    “Oh no, Presley. It’s not you. Greg and I are just going through a rough patch, so I’m just not myself.”
    I nodded sympathetically. “I’m a good listener if you need to talk about it.”
    Amelia smiled. “Thanks, Presley. It’s not the first time this has happened. When you’re married thirty years you’re always going to have your ups and downs, but that doesn’t mean it gets any easier. I just don’t know how Greg gets himself involved in these kinds of things.”
    I thought Amelia was being fairly calm, considering. I would blow a gasket if I knew my husband was cheating, and she seemed merely annoyed. And the fact that she knew it had happened before? “Have you guys tried counseling?”
    She looked at me funny. “We have been in counseling before but not for this. I’m not sure it would help this situation.”
    “Oh, okay. In my limited experience I thought talking with someone might help with issues like this.”
    Amelia looked at me strangely again. “Exactly what type of situation do you think we have?”
    Nothing like being put on the spot. I paused for a few seconds. Could she be talking about something other than her husband’s affair? I had just assumed, but maybe I was jumping to conclusions. I needed to be careful in my response. If I annoyed her by saying the wrong thing it would get back to Greg and then Cooper would kill me. Not to mention I didn’t want to come across as rude or offensive. “I’m sorry, Amelia. I guess I just made the assumption that Greg was having an affair. I shouldn’t have. It just seems to be the main reason couples have issues.”
    After what seemed like an eternity, Amelia burst out laughing. “Oh, Presley, you should see the look on your face. He’s not cheating, but I understand how you would assume that, because you’re right. Most men are pigs, and that’s why many relationships break up. But we’re having issues of a different sort. Actually, it’s why he hired Cooper. I’m surprised he