The Random House gods own Trix and all the rest of it.

Business For Pleasure

by Heather(Trix15)

"What’ll you have, Peter? The usual?" Matt Wheeler motioned to the bar in the corner of his study.

Peter Belden nodded and smiled, watching silently as Matt mixed him a gin and tonic. He turned and from the living room he could hear the sounds of Gaye tuning her violin.

"Thanks for coming over." Peter turned around again at Matt’s words.

"Of course. What good would I be as one of your bankers if I weren’t willing to be there," he grinned, accepting the glass Matt handed him.

Matt had stockbrokers, consultants and other bankers working for him in the city and they handled most of his business accounts. But since moving to Sleepyside, he had preferred to let Peter handle his day to day personal banking matters and certain financial issues that had to do with his local investments. He believed in the strength of a solid community and tried to invest in the little Westchester County town and surrounding area as often as the opportunity arose.

"Ah, well - I know you well enough to know that I have your personal as well as professional courtesy."

"Peter shook his head. "That’s what neighbors are for."

The two men sat down and went through numerous documents, talking, debating and commenting on investment ideas for Sleepyside. Plans were in the works for a mall to be built after the new highway was put in over Martin’s Marsh. A new subdivision was to be built in between Sleepyside and Croton-on-Hudson as well. They worked out the details that needed Matt’s direct comment and after taking the papers and carefully placing them in his briefcase, Peter turned back to Matt who hadn’t moved.

"Was there anything we forgot?" he questioned.

"No. But actually, I did want to speak to you about a few things – perhaps on more of a personal than a professional level."

Peter raised an eyebrow as he took the last sip of his drink. "Oh? What’s up?"

"The future, Peter. Yours. Mine. Our children’s. Refill?’ he held out his hand for Peter’s drink.

Peter nodded while looking quizzically at Matthew Wheeler. It was such an odd feeling, being in this man’s vicinity. Matt had an unmistakable aura about him. It was one of power, presence and authority. Peter could see this and it was so palpable – he could feel it every time he was with him. And yet somehow, being around Matt had never made him feel small or less accomplished.

Little did he know that Matt felt much the same dichotomy about him. Peter Belden was much accomplished in his own right. It was no small feat to raise children in the very simple manner that he had. At times, Matt wished that he could have exchanged some of the money he’d been able to lavish on Honey – for some of the time that Peter had had to dote on his children.

The two men carried a great deal of mutual respect for each other. And little by little, they were beginning to show this to one another. Much like their daughters, the two were becoming more than neighbor and neighbor – more than banker and client – they were well on their way to becoming friends.

"What about the future?"

"Well," Matt started. "There are a couple of reasons I’m talking to you about this. The first is simply financial I want to help you out. Wait!" He held up a hand as Peter began to speak.

"I know you don’t need help. And what I’m about to suggest to you doesn’t have to change the way you live. But it can provide for your children’s future far beyond what you, with four children, might otherwise be able to do. We were talking a short while ago about college, and I know you hardly said anything about it. But trust me – I know that you’ve got to be feeling the pressure with Brian and Mart in high school, Trixie on her way, and as soon as they’re finished, along will come Bobby. As you well know Peter – college isn’t cheap. And with the levels of education that it sounds like our children will require…." He stopped. "Now since I’ve moved here, you’ve taken excellent care of my business matters and me, here in Sleepyside. Let me do you a favor."

He finished his speech with earnestness in his voice. Taking his drink in both hands, he placed his elbows on his knees and leaned forward and smiled. "If you don’t want to hear more, I’ll stay quiet."

Peter sighed. "You said there were two reasons?"

Matt smiled. "Yes. And they’re right under our noses. Or I should say they live right under our feet. Matt gave a small sigh and ran his fingers through his red hair. "I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that my children and two of yours are – shall we say, close? And while I’m quite certain that it’s a bit too early for them to be picking out china patterns or curtains, it does bring to mind the fact that our children aren’t getting any younger. Honey will be provided for when he need arises one day. It’s already been arranged that even in the event I lose everything before my death – she’ll still be able to live comfortably off just the interest from her trust fund. And Jim of course has already been provided for in much the same way. He’ll of course inherit my companies with Honey as well. Peter – " Matt said as he leaned forward further. "I’ll never be able to thank you properly for giving me back my family – a real family. You just can’t know how indebted I feel to you."

"But, Matt," Peter broke in. "You do so much for us already. You got extra horses for the stables just so my children would each have one to ride. You allow them to roam all over your property. You’ve given them a clubhouse. And Heaven knows that mine – Trixie at least – has given you heart attacks at the trouble she gets into with Honey and those crooks they like chasing after."

Matt had been slowly shaking his head the entire time and now Peter’s voice slowed to a stop.

"But don’t you see. Those are all art of it. They’re all part of having a family. I can’t say I’m thrilled about her new career interest – or the early start she seems to have gotten on it. But I never even got to know any of her interests before. I never got to know any of her friends. Hell, I don’t even know if she had any friends. I mean – let’s just be honest. I never took the time to find out. And now – now, I’m still gone a lot but when I am here, Honey actually has something to tell me when I walk in the door. She’s excited to see me instead of looking like she’s afraid. We have things to say to one another. And God knows its worked wonders for my relationship with Madeleine." Matt stopped and looked down, feeling his face turn the same color as his hair.

"And beyond telling you those things – that’s why I want to do this for you – with you actually. Because I want your children roaming all over my property. I want my stables filled with as many horses as are needed. As for Trixie – well, yes – some of her adventures do give me cause for worry. But I’d rather worry about Honey than not even know what’s going on in her life. I would have built them a clubhouse fit for a king if they’d have let me. But I must confess how happy I am that they decided to work to make it what it is, and at their ethic when it comes to money. I was fortunate enough to enjoy some advantages at getting where I am. But none of it would have happened without hard work and dedication. And it cheers me to no end that those are two concepts that the Bob-Whites own.

"But you and I both well know that there comes a time when one has to work so hard to make ends meet, that they begin to face the loosing side of things. College doesn’t feel like college because you’re so busy working and studying, you don’t have time for anything – or anyone else. Having children isn’t even a joy because you spend so much time working to provide that you never see them. Why not alleviate those burdens for our children if we can? Peter, I’ve done it for mine. I want to help you do it for yours. I want to help you get the funds to create trust funds for Brian, Mart, Trixie and Bobby. They never need to know about it. They never need to know how their education is being paid for. And they’ll be able to attend whatever school they want. That’s not a chance a lot of people have. And I think our kids are worth it. And then, when the time comes – well, let’s face it – they’ll never been in want or need of anything.

"All you have to do is place a little of your money where I tell you to. My brokers will do the rest. And what’s more, Peter, is that you can’t loose. I could give you all the advice I have to give. But I want to financially back whatever you invest. You won’t loose a thing. Even if these investments turn south, which they won’t," he added, with a hint of cockiness, "you’ll get back everything you put in. It’s the least I can do."

Peter was quiet for the longest time. Money had never been something that was thought about very much in his family. But the opportunity to be able to leave his children enough to live comfortably should anything ever happen to he or Helen was almost too much for any man to pass up. After all – one house and a piece of property split four ways was daunting. He wasn’t positive he wanted to go the route of handing them the rest of their lives on a silver platter. But, as Matthew had said, college could be paid for and they never need know about the rest until it was necessary – a sort of life insurance. And that was something no respectable man should withhold from his family if he could afford not to.

He had no idea how Matt expected him to accomplish this. But he knew that there was something of a financial genius in the man and he wasn’t in the least worried about loosing anything he invested. His mind raced back and forth, seeking out the pros and cons until Matt’s voice broke back into his thoughts.

"It’s all I can offer, Peter. And you didn’t ask but mostly, this is somewhat of a selfish venture because I’m not only doing this for them – but for me as well. I need to say thank you, for showing me what family is again, and giving me one. I can’t spend the time with them that I’d like. But I can give them what I have to give,"

Peter looked at the man sitting before him. "Okay," he said quietly. "Okay. Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it."

Matt’s face lit up as the worried look in his green eyes disappeared. "Good," he nodded. He held up his glass containing the remainder of his drink. Peter clinked his glass with Matt’s, no words being necessary for the toast.

They sat for a few minutes longer, going over the minor details of the transactions that would make Matt all the more richer and would guarantee Brian, Mart, Trixie, and Bobby – Helen as well, would never be in need.

As the two go up to attend Gaye’s recital, they shook hands, a new and different sort of bond having been formed between them. They left the room changed and newly excited about what lie ahead for the futures of their families.

The End