Chapter 3: Murphy House

It was her habit for close to eleven years when she was in residence, she would greet the sun rising over the river and the inlet. Standing on the porch with her morning mug of coffee, she looked out over the inlet and sipped at her mug. The wind blew in stirring her auburn hair in its bitterly cold grasp.

It was January, so it was colder part of the year. Recently the weather had taken an even colder bent. This place, Murphy House, her legacy, and the heart of the estate slash lands, and this was her tradition no matter the temperature.

Kelly McMichael exhaled and out of her nostrils came to a stream of steam. It's been eleven years since she inherited this property on her Dad's death and ten years since she lived here permanently with her husband Andrew. Nine years ago, the first of the new generation was born, and from there time rolled on.

Since college Kelly had one job, manage this estate. She paid herself a salary and ran this varied empire from the library in this house. She truly earned the semi-title Mistress of Murphy House, as she personally ran the business. Andrew ended up working for his family's shipping company, which was never his goal, nor his desire, but when they had their first child, he needed to provide for them. So, he stepped up and took the job with his uncle.

Kelly sighed and took one last sip of her coffee. She pulled her coat tighter to hold in the body warmth she generated. In her thirty-two years on this Earth, Kelly couldn't remember it being so cold, and it was supposed to get colder.

Looking in the direction of the morning sun, it had now broken over the horizon. Next Kelly looked at her cup of coffee and seeing it was empty she nodded. After one more, deep, and possibly even painful breath she turned around and headed for the door to the house.

Inside the house, she slipped off her jacket and hung it up. Looking around, she had about an hour before her kids would be waking up. Kelly yawned, she's still had to check on Rian, her baby as he was just three. Andrew was in the port today. The MV Nightshade had pulled into port and had trouble and Andrew was the local troubleshooter. So, he had left before the sun to be in the port on some business or another. There always seemed to be some issue with the McMichael Ships.

Standing above her desk, she looked down. It wasn't the one her Dad used, he had left it to one of her siblings, but this one she bought, and it fitted her. Flipping open her appointment book she looked it over. She had to check on her south tenants, not that there were many, three, most of them rented the old farm fields.

Andrew had left her a note on the desk. Looking it over, she sighed, he was going to be stuck in the port most of the day. Great and it being a Sunday she had the whole brood.

Kelly looked over at the old and well-used wall clock. That clock had been around from what she could remember. It was probably here before her Mom was sitting in this room, or her granddad. She could do the running around the estate with Rian, but not all her children. Looking at the position of the clock she nodded. Chase isn't awake yet. So, Kelly had to wait to call Chase to see if she would watch the kids.

Kelly sat down at the desk and started sorting through the papers. It was time to start the work of the day. In the greater scheme of things, she was the head of the estate, and she was fairly hands-on. The day to day operations there was a property manager. Sighing, she looked over the latest paperwork, the never-ending paperwork. Kelly learned the greatest contribution her Dad did to this enterprise was to finish the restructuring of the economy of it all. What also surprised her going over the records as it was her Mom, Darcey Burke (nee Kelly), who really managed and reformed most of her family estate. He Granddad didn't really do much in keeping the estate running and ran it near bankrupt. The reforms, and the enterprise that was the Murphy Estates, that was Darcey's Legacy, not Cade's. Also, the estate was Kelly Family Legacy, as the lands came through her Mom's Family. Her Dad's family was a hard-working blue-collar family, and that was why he had made the estate work and grow.

Kelly knew the responsibility that came with this enterprise. She was determined not to let it fall, that was her responsibility. This responsibility did come with one great perk. Kelly smiled as she heard footsteps upstairs. She raised her kids, not a nanny or a daycare. It wasn't her ambition to be a stay at home mom, but once she became the Mistress of Murphy House, this changed. She finally accepted it, after college and took the challenge head-on, and Kelly secretly, not so secretly, hoped with the same energy her Mom and Dad attacked running the enterprise.

The papers were skillfully placed on the desk. Kelly stood up and thought about her life. Cade was miserly, he tried to live on what he earned, not on the proceeds of the estate. He died before she could find out why. But Cade left the estate healthy and with a little work she started to improve it. The only major change she did allow was the rebuilding of the old plantation house, Tree Hill, for her brother and sister-in-law, which they named Tree Hill Hall. It was another tenant and a small rent, and Chase had built a beautiful house.

Kelly nodded; it was unimportant now. She left the library and went upstairs. There was movement, it was clear now, they were all awake, she conjectured. Kelly smiled as she opened the first door and saw a small blonde boy sitting up smiling at her.

"Morning Momma," Rian said, Kelly's three-year-old son. Kelly smiled at him and felt the total joy she had in him. He was the joy that came out of the suffering and the worry of the past. Kelly was pregnant with him during the so-called annus horribilis. Everyone loved Rian; Kelly often thought it was because he symbolized a new beginning after the annus horribilis.

"Morning Baby Boy," Kelly said, smiling at her blonde hair baby boy. She got him ready for the day and when done he toddled behind her as she went to the next room.

Opening the door, she saw what she expected, a mess. Well not everyone was perfect, Kelly reflected. There was a great wall of toys and blocks. Kelly smiled, as she had adopted a no electronic policy with her kids. They had toys, went outside, and played in the woods, and did art things, something she learned from her best friend Keith's parents. This tended to make her kids more engaged with the outside world around them.

Kelly stood still and waited, and then there was a blonde flash that passed between two peaks of the great walls of a mess. Shaking her head, Kelly had to hold back her laugh. Child number two was trying to hide.

"Liv gets dressed," Kelly said.

There was no answer. Kelly knew that was Liv, really her name was Alivia, and she was seven years old. Liv thought she was clever.

"Liv, I know your hiding, get dressed for breakfast, or I'll make you clean this mess," Kelly said.

"Momma!" Liv said.

"I'm not playing around, Liv," Kelly said.

Liv popped her head out from behind the wall. She stared at Kelly, with a defiant stare. Kelly held back her smile, as she saw the defiance of her older sister, Bobbi-Lee, had with her Dad. Liv often reminded Kelly of Bobbi-Lee.

"Liv, please don't engage in a battle of wills, as you will lose," Kelly said.

Liv nodded, sighed, and sulked off to where her clean clothes were laid out the night before. Kelly waited to see Liv was doing what she was supposed to be doing. Once she was sure, Kelly left the room and was followed by Rian.

After closing the door behind her, Kelly walked over to the next bedroom. She opened the door, and to no surprise, she found the occupant still in bed. A mop of messy auburn hair stuck out from under the covers. Still asleep, Kelly thought with a sigh.

"Phelan," she called.

The form on the bed didn't stir. Kelly took a few steps into the bedroom.

"Phelan," she called, again.

Nope, nothing stirred, not even the stuffed Mickey Mouse on the shelf. Kelly sighed, and then thought letting them stay up for New Year's was not a good idea. Taking a few more steps into the room, she stood over the bed. Looking over her shoulder she saw Rian was still standing by the door. Turning back to the bed she reached out and grabbed the covers.

"Phelan!" Kelly yelled and pulled off the covers.

The nine-year-old boy finally stirred. He rolled around, covered his eyes, and groaned. Finally, he stopped, uncovered his eyes, and looked up at Kelly.

"Phelan get dressed and head down for breakfast," Kelly said.

"Momma!" Phelan said and was about to add to it. Kelly killed that thought.

"Don't Momma me, Phelan McMichael, get your ass in gear," Kelly said.

Phelan grunted and sat up. The only redhead of the three, he was also the only one that wasn't a morning person. Kelly sighed and shook her head, in that respect, not being a morning person, Phelan was Andrew's son. Kelly was an early riser and like today she enjoyed greeting the sun with her first cup of coffee. Kelly waited for Phelan to start his morning routine before she picked up Rian and headed downstairs.

In the kitchen, she got Rian situated and started making breakfast. Rian was enjoying his morning juice out of a sippy cup. Kelly was the cook in high school, well at least when her Dad was working. Huckleberry would do the dishes. Kelly had made a promise to herself, once she knew that managing the estates was a full-time job, that her kids would always start the day with a good meal in them. Since she worked at home, it was something she could easily do.

Once breakfast was done, she made up four plates. Kelly placed them down on the table, in front of Rian and three other chairs. She waited for Rian to start eating before she walked to the foot of the stairs.

"Phelan, Liv, get your butts down here for breakfast," Kelly yelled upstairs.

She waited a few minutes and then looked upstairs, "I don't hear Y'all moving! Do you want me to come up there?" Kelly yelled.

Two sets of feet were heard moving on the second floor. Soon she saw the older pair of kids come downstairs. She looked them over and nodded slightly. Not totally dressed in what she would choose for them to wear, but it was a vacation, so Kelly gave them a relatively free hand to choose what they wore, from the clothes she would lay out the night before.

"Get to your breakfast, I have to take a tour of the south tenants," Kelly said. There were days she didn't have to be out on the estate, so she was easier going on what and how long they did. Kelly wanted her children to have a fun childhood.

"Momma," Phelan said.

"No lip, Phelan, it's something I have to do," Kelly said.

Phelan nodded and followed his sister into the kitchen. Kelly sighed, as of now Phelan was probably going to take over the estate. But that wasn't a fixed rule, Bobbi-Lee didn't get the estate and she was the oldest. Her Dad in his will stated that Darcey would have wanted Kelly to have the estate. There was still time to see who would replace her. Kelly watched to make sure the three kids were eating, with a moment of peace, Kelly took out her cell phone and pressed a speed dial button. The phone rang a few times, and finally, the person picked up on the other end.

"Hello Kelly," Chase Burke, Kelly's sister-in-law, said, on the other line.

"Hey Chase, Andrew's down in the port most of the day. The Nightshade came in last night and they have been having issues, so he'll be down there most of the day. I have to check on the South Tenants today, can you watch my kids?" Kelly said.

"I have to work later, and I can't leave until Huck comes home," Chase said.

"I'm not going to be too long, there are only three South Tenants," Kelly said.

"Okay, I think the cousins would have fun together," Chase said.

"Alright, I'll call you when we leave," Kelly said.

"No problem; see you then," Chase said and hung up.

Kelly went into the kitchen and took her seat. She looked over the kids and made sure they were eating. She started at her own breakfast. As the children finished, they sat and waited. They couldn't leave the table until they were excused by Kelly or Andrew. Once Kelly finished eating, she looked at Phelan.

"You can clear the table," Kelly said.

Phelan got up and started clearing the dishes. Liv got up and helped her older brother. She followed him to the sink. Phelan washed off the dishes and handed them to Liv. Liv would load them, somewhat, into the dishwasher. Kelly had to always rearrange them before she ran the dishwasher, but it was good they had chores. During this time Kelly cleaned up Rian. Once the dishes were handled and Rian was set Kelly looked at them.

"Get your coats," Kelly said.

"Where are we going, Momma?" Liv asked.

Kelly nodded, as she started getting Rian dressed to go outside in the unseasonably cold weather. "We're going over to Tree Hill Hall to visit Auntie Chase and your cousins," she said.

The kids nodded and got their coats. Kelly finished getting Rian ready. She looked over Liv and Phelan to make sure they were ready. Once Kelly was satisfied, they headed outside to the parking area. Kelly unlocked the one vehicle she used when she traveled the estate, her light bluish veteran Jeep Wrangler.

She made sure Rian was secured first in the back seat. The Wrangler was only two doors, so it was harder than it sounded. Kelly next checked to make sure Liv had buckled herself up properly. Once done she reset the seats and watched as Phelan climbed into the front passenger seat. If they were leaving the estate, she wouldn't do that, let Phelan sit in the front, but there was no room in the back seat. If they left the estate, Kelly would drive in one of the other vehicles and all three of them would be in the backseat.

After making sure Phelan was buckled in properly, Kelly climbed into the driver's seat. This was an old veteran and was considered a classic, it was a manual five-speed transmission, so Kelly was one of the few people she knew that knew how to drive it. This was her car in high school and college. She maintained it well and on the estate with many of the interior roads unimproved it was what the doctor ordered. It was also fun to drive, especially to get it muddy.

With a smile, Kelly started the Jeep. The engine, it's fourth, she had worn out the third, and her Dad who owned it before she had worn out two, purred to life. With a practice set of hands and feet, she set it in gear and was off moving. She pulled out of the parking area and headed on the trail towards the tenant house known as Tree Hill Hall.