And Peggy

Arrangements

With the males gone, I can take care of my sister. She's not on the lounge room, she's not in our bedroom, she's not in the bathroom or the dining room or the hallway. I'm starting to think she's run away when I look out into the backyard and see her hunched figure over in the rotunda.

When I open the door, Eliza looks up and attempts a watery smile. An ocean of tears run down her face and she's holding a letter that has ink smeared all over it from tear stains. To her right side, a tall pile of letters sit.

I shift the letters and sit next to her, hugging her shoulders.

"It's alright. Everything will be fine." I soothe.
"You two'll figure it out. You always do. And if you don't, just know that you have two adoring sisters who will kick his butt."

"What we had," Eliza starts bitterly. "It was so special. He would write me a letter every week. He brainwashed me into thinking that he could be mine. In clearing his name, he's ruined both of our lives." And with that, she rips the letter in two. All the other letters soon follow suit with this fate until the rotunda floor is littered with smudged paper. Then we sit in silence for a while, hugging each other as the sky goes dark.
"I'm sorry, Peggy," she says finally. "I've been so selfish. You're going through the same thing as me and I've been completely neglecting you." I shrug nonchalantly but in truth, it hurts. I've been trying to forget about it but it's always there.

"It's not the same," I reply. "You loved your husband and willingly married him. I was pretty much forced into mine."

"I guess. But it's still a hard blow."

That, it was but I don't want to go into detail so I pull Eliza up and say, "We should get ready for dinner. Let's face the music!"

"You know," Eliza stops suddenly. "We should clean up the rotunda. Mother won't appreciate it."

"You're stalling!"

"Yep," Eliza admits. "I'm stalling."

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.

We all sit in silence, slurping on the entree soup that Amelia has prepared. Eliza and I sit on one side while Lafayette and Alexander sit on the other. Since no one appears to be saying anything anytime soon I perk up.

"Well thank you gentlemen for attending tonight. Shall we get down to business discussing the matter of Phillip's life choices with the current circumstances?"

"Of course." Eliza says. "Where is he? He should have a say."

"Aah," Alex replies uncertainly. "He's still cooling down after earlier."

"Well I hope he comes home soon. It's getting dark and he'll catch a chill."

"He'll be fine." Alex insists. "As long as he doesn't get sho- I mean shivery."

"Right, well I think he should stay with me in New York and he can come and see you in Albany on weekends."

"So there's no chance of us staying together?" Alex pleads. "Your not even willing to try."

Eliza shuts him down. "I can't look at you the same way and see a loving husband and father. Now, I see a cheater and a lier and a workaholic. You think I want to be part of something like that?"

"Eliza please,"

"Next issue!" Eliza shuts him down again. "Our cottage in Albany. Since I'll be with my family, I won't need it so it is yours but when Phillip starts a family I would like that house to occupy his children."

Hamilton just nods. He has accepted defeat. This is the one argument he won't win.

"All my belongings that are left at that house I will have collected and brought here. That's about it. Any questions?"

"Can I write you letters?" He asks hopefully.

"You can write me one letter per-"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Hannah waddles over to the door.

"Is this the Schuyler residence?"

"Yes, sir. How may I help you?"

"Is Mr Hamilton here?"

"Yes, in here."
Alexander gets up and pokes his head around the door.

"Sir," the male voice says. "It's your son. He's dying."