Hello Stranger

Chapter 2

Philip finally got home around midnight. His sister was in the kitchen, wearing a night gown with her hair held back in braids. A pot sat on the stove, the smell of garlic filling the room.

"Good evening," Philip said, striding into the room.

Angelica turned from the stove."Did you have a nice time?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Wonderful time, actually."

"So I'm sure."

"Why are you acting so defensive?" Philip pushed himself up onto the counter. "Have I offended my poor little sister again?"

"You've done nothing. I'm just a bit irritable right now, is all."

"Are you mad that you didn't get to go to the ball?"

Angelica rolled her eyes. "I could not care less about that."

"Poor little Cinderella."

Angelica glared at her brother, turning back to the stove.

"What are you making?"

"Soup. I would offer you some, but you seem more interested in nasty comments than food at the moment, so-"

"Oh, calm down, Angie."

Angelica let out a breath of air. "Insufferable," she muttered.

"Where's Pops?"

"Father's in his office. Mother's in the dining room- I think she's writing a letter."

"I just finished," Their mother said, entering the room. She was still dressed in her day clothes, wearing a dark blue dress, her hair pinned away from her face, the last lily of the season tucked behind one ear. She had been holding her head especially high the past few months, as if she was trying to prove that she was really alright. It made Philip feel a little strange seeing his mother holding herself in such way, when he was used to his Father taking up such a strong roll.

His father, in contrast, had turned into a bit of a mess. The spark just behind his eyes had dimmed, his smile looking more pained. He hadn't seen his parents in the same room with each other since the pamphlet, except for dinners of course, which were spent in brain-numbing silence.

"How was the ball?" His mother asked.

"Quite enjoyable."

"Any girls there?" Angelica asked.

Philip shrugged. "The usual. They were all falling to their knees as I walked past. Nothing out of the ordinary."

Angelica rolled her eyes. Their mother smiled. "Have you been thinking of any marriage proposals?"

"Oh, Mother, you know how I dread marriage."

"You're father wasn't much older than you when he proposed to me." Her smile slowly started to fall, her face growing colder. She bit her bottom lip, setting her jaw.

Philip could tell it was time to change the subject. "I actually did see one interesting girl there."

Their mother's smile returned. "Interesting?"

"Not for marriage, Mother." Philip almost scoffed at the suggestion. "It was Theodosia."

Angelica stopped stirring her soup. "Theodosia Burr?"

Philip nodded.

"My," Their mother said. "When was the last time we saw her? 1790?"

"It was before her father became a senator," Angelica said. "I didn't like her much. She's always smiling. It's a little unnerving."