Chapter 62: Tullamore Dew

Monday, January 2nd, Night

He unlocked the door and walked into his wife's house. That's how he had to look at it, it was her house, she inherited it and he had a sign a prenuptial agreement to make sure she'd not lose it. It was a nice house, but no one came looking for the Master of Murphy House, well not since his father-in-law was here, they looked for her, the Mistress of Murphy House. Some of the older tenants called her Miss Burke or even Miss Kelly. Which the second one always gave him pause, because was it meant to refer to her first name or her Mom's maiden name.

Andrew McMichael shook his head and rested a hand on his stomach, the long days and not so great food was taking a toll on him, and his waistline. He didn't expect to hear what he heard though, instead of the wails of his kids, he heard the notes of a guitar. They were down and bluesy notes, that was never good. Andrew checked his watch and saw how late it was.

Hanging up his coat and setting down his briefcase, he walked into the living room. His auburn-haired wife sat in a chair, her guitar on her lap, and a half-empty glass of Tullamore Dew on the side table. Kelly strummed the strings in a practiced way, where the notes sounded coherent at least.

Andrew gave a pause and listened to what she was playing. It was a song because he noted that it sounded familiar. Was the song, rock, jazz, or the blues, he didn't know, but Kelly seemed to play the song with a purpose.

Finally, Andrew came into view. Kelly paused, picked up her glass and took a sip of her whiskey. She put the glass down and went back to playing whatever song she was playing. Andrew went off to the liquor and poured himself a glass and took a seat across from Kelly.

She just kept playing, ignoring Andrew. That meant something was on her mind. It wasn't serious, or she would have called him at the office, more than likely it had to be one of the tenants. It also wasn't one of the kids, that would have brought a phone call. Kelly would play normally after the kids went to bed, but not this intense. The intense playing was reserved for when she was troubled, Andrew had noted.

Four years ago, Kelly would sink into her guitar every night and play with a similar intensity. Andrew would sit there and listen and watch as she tried to balance the guitar on her knee with her belly swelling as she was carrying Rian then. He just watched as she finished up the song and once, she stopped, she picked up her glass and took another sip.

"Bad day?" Andrew asked.

"The Leadbelly gave it away?" Kelly asked.

"You're playing, and the whiskey," Andrew said.

Kelly nodded and put her guitar down, "I'm not sure what to call it exactly," she said.

Andrew nodded, "What do you mean?" he asked.

"It's a bit complex," Kelly said.

Andrew sighed, "Complex is life," he said.

"Huckleberry went up to the Kilpatrick's Farm this morning," Kelly said.

"I remember you asked him to," Andrew said.

Kelly nodded, "Yeah, I was hoping he would be able to catch Holden before he disappeared," she said.

Andrew took a sip of his drink, "I gather from your playing and mood, your brother found Holden Kilpatrick," he said.

"Oh yeah," Kelly said, and took a sip of her drink and held it out to Andrew, "Could you freshen me up?"

Andrew nodded, "How many have you had?" he asked.

"I don't know," Kelly said, "With how I feel not enough."

"That bad?" Andrew asked.

"Please, can you fill my drink?" Kelly asked.

Andrew sighed, "Okay, the last one though," he said.

"What? Don't want to take advantage of me?" Kelly asked, batting her eyes.

"Of course, I would love to, but you would have to be capable of taking part," Andrew said.

Kelly laughed, "Of course I can take part, I do have a higher tolerance than you do," she said.

Andrew stood up, gave his wife a smile, took Kelly's glass. As he walked towards the liquor cabinet, Kelly picked up her guitar again. Kelly started to pick on the strings again, it was the same song. Andrew nodded, he knew why it sounded familiar, it was the sound Kelly played when she was troubled. Andrew poured her some more of her Tullamore Dew and brought it back to her.

Kelly gestured to the side table. Andrew nodded and after leaving it on the side table. Andrew returned to his chair and took up his glass. Kelly stopped playing and picked up her glass and took another sip of her whiskey.

"So, what was this terrible thing that Huck found at Kilpatrick's Farm?" Andrew asked.

Kelly took in a deep breath and held it. After a few moments, Kelly let it out. She next took a sip of her drink. Andrew knew she was stalling; she did want to say it out loud.

Finally, Kelly put the guitar aside, "Huckleberry found Holden passed out drunk this morning," she said.

Andrew shrugged, "We've all had our bad morning, remember that one time after a party at Beaulieu we barely made it to our bed," he said.

Kelly shook her head, "Not like that at all, Dear," she said, "The way Huckleberry described it, he has a chronic drinking problem."

Andrew nodded and went to take a sip of his drink. He thought better of it and his drink back down. He steepled his finger and pressed his pointer fingers against his chin. "How bad is it?" Andrew finally asked.

Kelly nodded, "From what Huckleberry described it and after looking up what he told me, it's pretty bad, downright terrible," she said.

Andrew nodded, trying to remember all the details about anyone of Kelly's tenants was difficult. He wasn't heavily involved in her family business. Part of that was his choice and part of it was he wanted Kelly to stand on her own. "Doesn't he have young children?" Andrew finally asked.

"Yes," Kelly said, "Four daughters, the oldest is seventeen."

Andrew reached over and pushed his glass of whiskey away, "It had to be going on for a long time, how could we not know?" he asked.

Kelly shrugged, "My guess is when it got bad, they started hiding it. The question is how long has it been going on," she said.

Andrew nodded, "Does your Dad's records have anything on that?" he asked.

Kelly shook her head, "Nope, nothing that would give a hint," she said.

He leaned forward and rested his hands on his knees, "How could you do that to your family?" Andrew asked.

Kelly shrugged, "I don't know," she said, "I wouldn't know about living in a functional family."

Andrew nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I agree, I wouldn't know either," he said.

"At least my Dad was alive and mostly sober," Kelly said.

"If I remember, Cade was very lonely," Andrew said.

"That he was, with Carson in the home and my Mom died, he was very much alone, he would occasionally break it up with spending time with classmate's parents, platonically," Kelly said.

"Well my parents liked to sleep with other people," Andrew said.

Kelly nodded, "I remember someone told me once nothing is easy, nothing is clean," she said.

"That's true," Andrew said, "What did you want to talk to Holden about?"

"Someone wants the lumber rights, and Kilpatrick's timber hasn't been cut in like forever, according to the records," Kelly said.

"Are they clear-cutting?" Andrew asked.

Kelly shook her head, "No, I've talked with the North Range Tenants and they go through and select the trees," she said.

"So, what are you going to do about Kilpatrick's Farm?" Andrew said.

Kelly shrugged, "I don't know, I'm on new ground here," she said, "I don't know if there is anything I can do."

"I would think something has to be done," Andrew said.

Kelly nodded, "I guess, I'll head up there and talk to Marie," she said.

"Marie?" Andrew asked.

"Holden's oldest, I'm guessing she's running that mess up there," Kelly said.

"That's something," Andrew said, "Still better than nothing."

"Yeah," Kelly said, "Remember tomorrow to get out early so you can attend your niece's game."

Andrew nodded, "I'll put an alert on my phone," he said.

Kelly nodded, "Now Andrew," she said and finished her whiskey, "The kids are asleep, I'm your wife and drunk."

"Okay?" Andrew asked.

"So, why haven't you taken me upstairs and taken advantage of me yet?" Kelly asked.

Andrew laughed, "Because I'm a fool," he said.

Kelly's smile turned wicked, "Then lets us be foolish," she said.

Andrew stood up, walked over to Kelly, picked her up and carried her upstairs, they only paused on the landing for a kiss.