After Nate dropped Alex off at his house, the oldest son of William and Martha Anderson went to his own home and cleaned up.
Then, thinking over the situation with his budding lawn care business, Nate tried going over the ledger book he was keeping.
The concept's sound, I'm doing good based on the paying clients, he realized, but all these deadbeats, plus having to think about things like materials, taxes, and who knows what else are dragging me down. I need help.
With that, he got more formally dressed than just the towel and underwear he was wearing since getting out of the shower and headed downstairs with his ledger.
"Where are you going honey?" asked his mother, as Martha Anderson was about to have a late lunch.
After their night with Dawn and Douglas Hall, the werevixen and her vulpine mate were planning to go to The Were Club that night and try their luck on the Swinging Weres Circuit, for lack of a better name.
"Out, for at least a while," said Nate, making sure he had everything.
"Well, your father and I may not be home when you get back. I know Eric has his key, although I'm not sure if he's planning to spend the night at Frieda's or Spencer's yet," said Martha.
"Don't worry. I'm good," promised Nate, before taking off.
On a lunch break from working his own business, Leon Talbot answered the front door of his home, but wasn't surprised to see who rang the doorbell.
"Nathaniel, nice to see you again, but I'm afraid Jean won't be home for a couple of more hours yet since Moon Lake College is in session today," he said, as his daughter's boyfriend entered.
"That's okay. Actually, I'm here to see Peter, if he's in," explained Nate.
"Really?" asked Leon, wondering what was up. "I'll go get him."
A couple of moments later, the oldest child of Moon Lake's werelion "king" came to the Talbot family living room, finishing the last bites of his lunch in the process. "I've only got Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday classes this semester, but Dad said you wanted to see me?" asked Peter, not knowing what this visit could be about.
"I hope I'm not out of line asking," began Nate, "but Jean's always bragging about how smart you are. Only this year shy of completing your business degree and everything."
That surprised Peter, for at times his familial connections with Jean were the usual brother/sister relations and at times they could be quite caring toward each other.
"Anyway, I've been trying to start up my own lawn care service, and I could use some professional help," admitted Nate.
"You do realize that I can't really do anything official until I get my business degree next year, which is why right now my only 'client' is Talbot Restorations," pointed out Peter, referring to the classic car restoration company Leon ran with his brothers. "But let's take a look at what's going on," added Peter, noticing the ledger in Nate's hands.
"Thanks," replied Nate, as he took a seat in the living room after handing Peter the ledger. "I've discovered that I have a knack, if not a true green thumb, for this work. I've even been strongly considering making it my full time job after graduating high school next year, but I've just didn't expect there to be so many hassles in the process."
"I see," said Peter, going over the listings in Nate's ledger. "Hmmm... for an inexperienced novice, you're not doing too shabby on the accounting front," he conceded. "Your delinquent clients obviously aren't helping you, although technically your business is still in the black since most of the time it's apparently just you in regards to a staff. Yet even for seasonal contract work, you need to formally address the tax situation or the IRS will seriously want a piece of your hide come the income tax filing deadline next Spring."
"I know, but can you help? I really want my business to grow and succeed," replied Nate.
"Let me ask my father if we can use the computer in his den first. Otherwise, I believe so," said Peter, ready, willing, and able to tackle the challenge; even if it didn't involve his potential future brother-in-law, that is if his sister Jean eventually got her way after Nate graduated high school.
"Thanks man," said Nate, happy to get both some help and relief from his problems.
Once Peter explained the need and got his father's permission to use the den, that was where he and Nate hunkered down to tackle the situation.
A task that they would still be at hours later when Jean Talbot came home for the Labor Day weekend, surprised to see both her boyfriend and her brother working on a project together.