Chapter 780: Murphy House
Tuesday, March 28th, Evening
Her family was organized differently from most families. Even though she was the oldest, she wasn't the head of her family, nor was her brother the middle child; the family head was the baby of the family. Her sister inherited the family seat and the responsibilities. There were provisions for an allowance for her and her brother. Also, her sister allowed their brother to build a house on the family lands.
Bobbi-Lee smirked as she drove down the gravel road to her family seat, Murphy House. The crunch of the gravel under her car tires was so distant but familiar. Her luxury electric car wasn't built for this. Bobbi-Lee noted that both her sister Kelly's and brother Huck's families tended to drive four-wheel drive SUVs. Bobbi-Lee noted the four dower cottages, which have long since been disused but are still maintained. Kelly offered Bobbi-Lee one when she returned from her sabbatical in the southwest, but Bobbi-Lee chose to buy her cottage instead.
As she brought her car to a halt at Murphy House, Bobbi-Lee noted that Kelly kept the ancient Jeep Wrangler their dad had given her as her first car. Murphy House still looked the same, a slightly eclectic mix of old and new. It was a modest antebellum house that had been added onto over the century-plus since it became the family seat.
Bobbi-Lee took a deep breath and turned off her car. She walked up the back stairs to the rear porch overlooking the now shallow Murphy Inlet. Bobbi-Lee heard stories of ocean-going sailing ships tied up here, but now only tiny pleasure craft can access the inlet without running aground.
Turning around, Bobbi-Lee came into the sight of one of her nephews. Kelly's oldest son, Phelan, both Kelly and Huck tended to favor Irish names. Phelan was young but not the youngest; there was a rush of babies around the same time, and Phelan was in that group.
"Hello, Phelan," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Aunt Bobbi?" Phelan asked.
"Yes," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Momma!" Phelan called out.
"What, Phelan?" Kelly replied.
"Aunt Bobbi is here," Phelan called out.
"Well, show her in," Kelly replied.
"Yes, Momma," Phelan said, turned to Bobbi-Lee," Follow me, Aunt Bobbi."
"Okay," Bobbi-Lee said with a laugh.
Phelan led Bobbi-Lee into the house. Bobbi-Lee came face to face with her baby sister. Bobbi-Lee and Huck tended to take after their dad's side of the family, the Burke side. Kelly looked like their mom's side, the Kelly side. Bobbi-Lee and Kelly were tall for women; Kelly was even taller. Both had red hair: Bobbi-Lee's was the Burke ginger, and Kelly's was the Kelly auburn.
"Bobbi," Kelly said.
"Kelly," Bobbi-Lee said, and they did their proforma hug.
"So, how have you been?" Kelly asked.
"Busy," Bobbi-Lee said.
Kelly looked at Phelan. "Is the table set?" she asked.
"Yes, Momma," Phelan said.
"Well, get your brother and sister to the table," Kelly said.
"Yes, Momma," Phelan said and ran off.
"Kind of harsh there," Bobbi-Lee said.
"I'm a benevolent dictator," Kelly said.
"I guess you are," Bobbi-Lee said.
Kelly nodded and started to collect the serving plates for dinner. Bobbi-Lee noted that Kelly was thinking; the gears turning behind her eyes were noticeable. Kelly turned towards the door.
"Phelan, Liv, come help bring out dinner," Kelly said.
"No, Andrew?" Bobbi-Lee asked.
"Uncle Ian is going to kill him with all the problems he has Andrew sort out," Kelly said.
Bobbi-Lee nodded as Phelan and his only sister, Liv, entered the kitchen. Kelly handed them each a serving plate, and they took them to the dining table. Kelly ushered Bobbi-Lee out of the kitchen, carrying the last dish.
Kelly retrieved her youngest, Rian, and put the three-year-old in his seat. She started to make up his plate, and Bobbi-Lee watched as Kelly carefully made up each of her children's plates and one for Andrew. Bobbi-Lee, as the guest, got the first pick. After cutting up the food on Rian's plate, Kelly started to make her plate with what was left.
Once Kelly finished with her plate, she looked at Bobbi-Lee. "So, how are you doing?" Kelly asked.
"I'm doing well," Bobbi-Lee said.
"We worry about you, living alone and working from home, being alone all the time," Kelly said.
"I'm good; I'm as creative as I've ever been," Bobbi-Lee said.
"Would you consider Brett living with you until the end of the school year?" Kelly asked.
"Kell, I love Brett, and she could stay anytime she wants, but I don't want to take her from her parents, especially with her going to South Bend this summer," Bobbi-Lee said.
"They have other kids," Kelly said.
"You know the first and last always have a special palace for parents," Bobbi-Lee said, "Anyway, would you think the horde would not miss Brett?"
Kelly nodded, "Good point, I didn't think of it that way," she said.
Bobbi-Lee shrugged, "It's a thought, nothing more," she said.
"I worry about you, Bobbi," Kelly said.
"I'm fine. I'm the older sister. I'm the one who should worry about you and JL," Bobbi-Lee said.
Kelly nodded. Dinner passed by without much incident. After dinner, they watched a Disney movie with the kids, Brave, which is Liv's favorite. Bobbi-Lee helped put the kids to bed and said goodbye to Kelly. As the sisters parted from Bobbi-Lee's car, Bobbi-Lee wondered how long Kelly would stand and watch.
Bobbi-Lee started to pull away. In the rearview, she noticed Kelly reach for her smartphone and answer it in shock. Bobbi-Lee figured it was probably Andrew delivering more bad news. Shaking her head, Bobbi-Lee kept driving.