Laina Turner - Presley Thurman 02 - Necklaces & Nooses by Laina Turner
Authors: Laina Turner
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replied in his normal abrasive attitude. Ahhh, there was the James I knew better.
“When is the funeral?” I had to ask. Surely he wasn’t going to have one and not tell the store employees or let us go.
“I’m not sure yet. Her family is trying to control everything, typical for them, and they haven’t let me in on the details. But it should be in the next couple days.”
“You are planning on telling us, aren’t you?” I figured I had nothing to lose by asking, and as much as I didn’t like funerals I felt it was important that all of us from Silk attend and show our respects.
“Who’s us?”
“The store employees, James. We need to pay our respects.” Geez, he could come across as one of the most uncaring people.
“Oh, you guys,” he said, distracted. “Of course, Solange would want you there, even that one girl.”
“One girl?” I was confused. Who was he talking about?
“Oh, you know…the one who just got fired.”
“Amy?”
“Yeah, her.”
That was weird. I wouldn’t have thought he and Solange would talk at that level about store business, since they seemed like people who couldn’t get along over the basics.
“So, I was hoping you would take over the running of Silk, at least for right now. Solange thought very highly of you, and I know this is what she would have wanted, you in charge. I realize that you are way overqualified, and probably aren’t interested in running Silk permanently, but it would be a big help for now and be less turmoil for the store.”
Once again I found it somewhat odd they had talked about me, and that he paid me a compliment about being overqualified. Why would two people in the midst of a divorce, who never seemed to get along, talk about one of the employees of the wife’s boutique that the husband had been incessantly trying to gain control of? It didn’t make any sense.
“Well? Will you do it, run the boutique? For Solange?”
I hadn’t planned on saying no. I didn’t have a job lined up and couldn’t afford to be unemployed. And, even if I decided not to stay, I needed time to decide next steps no matter how much I may not want to work for him. But he didn’t have to keep playing the guilt card.
“Yes James, I will run Silk. At least until things get figured out, but we need to get a few things straight.”
“What would that be? And I do appreciate your help, truly.”
There was the nice James again. He was like two people.
“You can’t call and hound me all the time, and you really need to make an effort to be nicer.” There, I actually had the nerve to say what I felt. Maybe because I didn’t have a lot to lose—just my income, that’s all.
“I understand, Presley. I just want you to keep things running like normal. There is plenty of money in the business accounts for payroll and ordering new merchandise. If there is anything you need me for, you know how to reach me. And I will try not to be my normal overbearing self.” He attempted to laugh.
“James, I really am sorry about what happened to Solange, and I know this can’t be easy.”
“Thanks, Presley,” he said, sounding very tired.
“Let me know when the funeral is, and I will keep you updated on the store.”
“Thanks. I’ll be in touch.” He hung up.
I listened to dead air, wondering what I had gotten myself into, but at least feeling comfortable he would keep me in the loop related to the funeral arrangements—and hopefully he would keep his word about not breathing down my neck about the boutique.
Chapter 6
S ometimes being an adult just wasn’t fun. I had just heard back from the other two ladies, Edie and Lily who worked with me, and I told them the news about Solange. They had already heard it on the news, and of course they were full of questions. Questions I didn’t have answers to, nor did I want to talk about it. It just felt too creepy. It still didn’t seem real that Solange was dead. It felt almost as if I were
“When is the funeral?” I had to ask. Surely he wasn’t going to have one and not tell the store employees or let us go.
“I’m not sure yet. Her family is trying to control everything, typical for them, and they haven’t let me in on the details. But it should be in the next couple days.”
“You are planning on telling us, aren’t you?” I figured I had nothing to lose by asking, and as much as I didn’t like funerals I felt it was important that all of us from Silk attend and show our respects.
“Who’s us?”
“The store employees, James. We need to pay our respects.” Geez, he could come across as one of the most uncaring people.
“Oh, you guys,” he said, distracted. “Of course, Solange would want you there, even that one girl.”
“One girl?” I was confused. Who was he talking about?
“Oh, you know…the one who just got fired.”
“Amy?”
“Yeah, her.”
That was weird. I wouldn’t have thought he and Solange would talk at that level about store business, since they seemed like people who couldn’t get along over the basics.
“So, I was hoping you would take over the running of Silk, at least for right now. Solange thought very highly of you, and I know this is what she would have wanted, you in charge. I realize that you are way overqualified, and probably aren’t interested in running Silk permanently, but it would be a big help for now and be less turmoil for the store.”
Once again I found it somewhat odd they had talked about me, and that he paid me a compliment about being overqualified. Why would two people in the midst of a divorce, who never seemed to get along, talk about one of the employees of the wife’s boutique that the husband had been incessantly trying to gain control of? It didn’t make any sense.
“Well? Will you do it, run the boutique? For Solange?”
I hadn’t planned on saying no. I didn’t have a job lined up and couldn’t afford to be unemployed. And, even if I decided not to stay, I needed time to decide next steps no matter how much I may not want to work for him. But he didn’t have to keep playing the guilt card.
“Yes James, I will run Silk. At least until things get figured out, but we need to get a few things straight.”
“What would that be? And I do appreciate your help, truly.”
There was the nice James again. He was like two people.
“You can’t call and hound me all the time, and you really need to make an effort to be nicer.” There, I actually had the nerve to say what I felt. Maybe because I didn’t have a lot to lose—just my income, that’s all.
“I understand, Presley. I just want you to keep things running like normal. There is plenty of money in the business accounts for payroll and ordering new merchandise. If there is anything you need me for, you know how to reach me. And I will try not to be my normal overbearing self.” He attempted to laugh.
“James, I really am sorry about what happened to Solange, and I know this can’t be easy.”
“Thanks, Presley,” he said, sounding very tired.
“Let me know when the funeral is, and I will keep you updated on the store.”
“Thanks. I’ll be in touch.” He hung up.
I listened to dead air, wondering what I had gotten myself into, but at least feeling comfortable he would keep me in the loop related to the funeral arrangements—and hopefully he would keep his word about not breathing down my neck about the boutique.
Chapter 6
S ometimes being an adult just wasn’t fun. I had just heard back from the other two ladies, Edie and Lily who worked with me, and I told them the news about Solange. They had already heard it on the news, and of course they were full of questions. Questions I didn’t have answers to, nor did I want to talk about it. It just felt too creepy. It still didn’t seem real that Solange was dead. It felt almost as if I were
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