understand. You got something better for yourself, didn’t you?”
“Don’t forget I’m making money, not living on a fixed salary. Even a good one like Richard’s doesn’t go far after taxes. The thing is, you have to know how to manage your money and make it grow.”
“And just how am I to do anything about that?” she asked impatiently.
“You know,” he said, “I’ve been doing great things for strangers. Tax shelters, arbitrage, futures, whatever. So why shouldn’t I be doing something for Richard too? I’ve suggested it, but he’s not interested, which doesn’t make any sense.”
“He’s keeping his grandmother’s trust with the same bank that the family’s been with for three generations, that’s why. You’d think they were married to the bank.”
“One can be too conservative, letting the money lie there doing next to nothing. I never can get over how you have to prod people to do things for their own good. Take Davey. Now, thanks to me, he’s got his patent approved, and I’ve made him a loan so he can establish credit for a mortgage. He tells me he’s found a neat little building in good condition and he’s begun to hire help to get started. They should be in production by fall. If I hadn’t pushed, he’d be just where he’s always been, doing absolutely nothing with his great idea. And Lara would be wasting a very good business head, which I’ve always told her to use. But I had to push, literally push. The two of them always think they have enough. And somehow, they do! You know,” he mused, “when I think back to the way we lived at home, the way Peg managed, I don’t understand how she did it. It’s funny how fast you get used to having more and then how the more never seems to be enough either. Almost, but not quite, enough. Funny.”
“Yes,” Connie said soberly. “Funny.” And she lookeddown at the skirt of her violet wool suit and at the spring-green silk cuffs of her blouse.
Eddy followed her glance. “That’s a good-looking outfit.”
“Thank you. Richard saw it in a window and brought it home.”
“He has good taste. Listen. I’m going to call him. There’s no sense in his creeping along when it’s possible to fly.”
“You’re a good soul, Eddy. With all your faults you’re a good soul.”
Connie patted his hand, and he knew that her anger had vented itself.
“Well, I try. I’ll have my little talk with Richard next week.”
“This is a nice office you’ve got here,” Richard said.
“But it’s getting way too small. Look out there.” Eddy indicated the rooms beyond his private office. “We’re falling all over each other.”
“Out there” was a vista of four rooms packed with desks edge to edge and piled with a jumble of telephones and computer terminals, all under the care of various young men and women in a harried hurry.
“Not that I’m complaining, by any means,” Eddy assured Richard. “We’ll just have to move. But between ourselves, I sometimes marvel at the growth. Where does it all come from?”
“You’re a likable person, Eddy. You’re open and frank. People have confidence in you.”
“Thank you, brother-in-law.”
“You and Connie—you’re the same. Full of energy. Full of life.”
“Well, life’s exciting, isn’t it? I never think I’ll live long enough to see everything I want to see or do everything I want to do, especially in this business. Sometimes I think I actually feel the adrenaline pouring.” Eddy riffled through the documents that lay before him. “Let’s see, have you signed all these? Yes, you have. I’m glad you’ve finally cut your ties to that stuffy bank. Steady growth, my foot! Eight percent, and what’s left after taxes? Wait till you see your tax bill at this year’s end! You won’t recognize yourself, Richard.”
“I was wondering whether you might do something like this for some cousins of mine. There’s one in particular in Florida. He’s got five children, and
“Don’t forget I’m making money, not living on a fixed salary. Even a good one like Richard’s doesn’t go far after taxes. The thing is, you have to know how to manage your money and make it grow.”
“And just how am I to do anything about that?” she asked impatiently.
“You know,” he said, “I’ve been doing great things for strangers. Tax shelters, arbitrage, futures, whatever. So why shouldn’t I be doing something for Richard too? I’ve suggested it, but he’s not interested, which doesn’t make any sense.”
“He’s keeping his grandmother’s trust with the same bank that the family’s been with for three generations, that’s why. You’d think they were married to the bank.”
“One can be too conservative, letting the money lie there doing next to nothing. I never can get over how you have to prod people to do things for their own good. Take Davey. Now, thanks to me, he’s got his patent approved, and I’ve made him a loan so he can establish credit for a mortgage. He tells me he’s found a neat little building in good condition and he’s begun to hire help to get started. They should be in production by fall. If I hadn’t pushed, he’d be just where he’s always been, doing absolutely nothing with his great idea. And Lara would be wasting a very good business head, which I’ve always told her to use. But I had to push, literally push. The two of them always think they have enough. And somehow, they do! You know,” he mused, “when I think back to the way we lived at home, the way Peg managed, I don’t understand how she did it. It’s funny how fast you get used to having more and then how the more never seems to be enough either. Almost, but not quite, enough. Funny.”
“Yes,” Connie said soberly. “Funny.” And she lookeddown at the skirt of her violet wool suit and at the spring-green silk cuffs of her blouse.
Eddy followed her glance. “That’s a good-looking outfit.”
“Thank you. Richard saw it in a window and brought it home.”
“He has good taste. Listen. I’m going to call him. There’s no sense in his creeping along when it’s possible to fly.”
“You’re a good soul, Eddy. With all your faults you’re a good soul.”
Connie patted his hand, and he knew that her anger had vented itself.
“Well, I try. I’ll have my little talk with Richard next week.”
“This is a nice office you’ve got here,” Richard said.
“But it’s getting way too small. Look out there.” Eddy indicated the rooms beyond his private office. “We’re falling all over each other.”
“Out there” was a vista of four rooms packed with desks edge to edge and piled with a jumble of telephones and computer terminals, all under the care of various young men and women in a harried hurry.
“Not that I’m complaining, by any means,” Eddy assured Richard. “We’ll just have to move. But between ourselves, I sometimes marvel at the growth. Where does it all come from?”
“You’re a likable person, Eddy. You’re open and frank. People have confidence in you.”
“Thank you, brother-in-law.”
“You and Connie—you’re the same. Full of energy. Full of life.”
“Well, life’s exciting, isn’t it? I never think I’ll live long enough to see everything I want to see or do everything I want to do, especially in this business. Sometimes I think I actually feel the adrenaline pouring.” Eddy riffled through the documents that lay before him. “Let’s see, have you signed all these? Yes, you have. I’m glad you’ve finally cut your ties to that stuffy bank. Steady growth, my foot! Eight percent, and what’s left after taxes? Wait till you see your tax bill at this year’s end! You won’t recognize yourself, Richard.”
“I was wondering whether you might do something like this for some cousins of mine. There’s one in particular in Florida. He’s got five children, and
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