And Peggy

Teach me how to Say Goodbye

That summer ended all too quickly. As Peggy hugged her nieces and nephews goodbye, and could not help but wonder when everyone would be under the same roof again.

"I suppose I must be off now." Angelica sighed. "It was so great to see you again!"

"And you, our beloved Angelica." Eliza beamed. Alexander had written scrawled responses, yet tender with love.

Yes Eliza, I am getting enough sleep.

Yes Eliza, I remembered to eat lunch today.

Yes Eliza, I love you.

Once that last letter came through the mail, Peggy had finally been able to enjoy her summer. Now, it was over.

"We will meet again soon. I must see the rest of the Barker Churches." Peggy remarked. "I cannot stay away from you, either."

They hugged.

"Angelica!"

"Eliza!"

"And Peggy!"

"The Schuyler Sisters!"

•••

A few years had passed since the reunion upstate. The sisters exchanged letters frequently. But there was a change in the atmosphere. Philip Schuyler had fallen ill. Peggy had gone to check on him as much as she could. Eliza lived the closest, so she was there nearly everyday.

"How are you, father?" Peggy asked one cold Wednesday morning.

"I am fine. Just a little cold." Philip pretended to brush off his sickness, but ended up in a coughing fit.

Peggy fed him some soup. She tried to stay calm for him, but deep down, she was nervous to death.

"Peggy!" Eliza walked into the room. "Hello Father. How are you feeling?"

He coughed. "Well..."

"Shh, save your strength." Eliza said. "I shall walk Peggy out."

Peggy kissed her father's forehead. "I will come again soon, okay?"

"Yes, my dearest."

"I am worried about him." Eliza said once they were outside.

"We all are." Peggy answered.

They hugged.

"See you soon." Peggy said as she walked to get carriage.

•••

It was all too soon.

Peggy had been having lunch when Stephen walked inside, looking very grave.

"Me dear-"

"Stephen? What is the matter?"

"A letter for you, my dear."

Peggy saw it was from Eliza.

"I was going to see her today..." Her mind jumped to the worst conclusions, which was what had happened.

Peggy my dear, our beloved father has passed away. It happened last night, I was staying over. Please come as soon as you can.

~Eliza

The paper was splattered with water. It was clear Eliza had been rather tearful when writing it. More water droplets poured into it as Peggy sniffed. Stephen pulled her close.

"I shall go with you in the carriage. Okay?"

Peggy nodded.

As they walked outside, Justine walked downstairs. She was fifteen now, and had lightened up a little bit.

"Mother, Father, what is wrong? Where are you going?"

"Go in the carriage dear. I will tell Justine." Stephen kissed his wife's forehead.

Everything was in slow motion. Peggy's father had died. She had no parents now. She felt dazed and alert at the same time. She had not felt this way in years.

She heard a yelling like noise come from her home. Justine must have just found out.

Stephen walked outside shortly afterwards, his head bent down low. He got in the carriage and pulled his wife closer to him.

Peggy knew the day would come eventually. Everyone must die. But that did not make it any less painful. Some death- like John's- came all too soon with no warning. Others, like her father, had a small lead up, but there was a chance everything would work out. This was not the case.

"Are you thinking of John?" Stephen asked.

Peggy nodded. "How did you know?"

"Just a hunch."

They pulled into the Schuyler household, once filled with laughter and light, now only held despair and loss. Eliza was waiting for them outside.

"Peggy!" She yelled once they were in view. She ran down to greet them. Her eyes were bloodshot.

"Eliza."

They embraced.

"I wrote a letter to Angelica. She will be here as soon as she can." Eliza informed them.

They nodded.

Eliza burst into tears.

"Oh Eliza. Come here." Peggy was beyond tears at the moment. She pulled her sister in close.

"I-I knew i-it would happen o-one day but-"

"Shh. I know, I know." Peggy hugged her sister. She felt numb inside. It was hard to stay strong.

"Peggy, your shoulders are shaking." Eliza pulled away.

There was a pause.

Peggy burst into tears.

It was too much loss for one person to handle.

•••

Angelica had come after two weeks. Peggy barely ate or slept. Any spare moment she had she spent with her sisters, as if they would soon leave her as well, God forbid.

"Peggy?" Stephen walked downstairs late one night to see his wife sitting in their strong room, a blank expression on her face. "My dear, go to bed."

Peggy shook her head.

"Peggy..." He sat down next to her. "Is this what your father would have wanted?"

"It does not matter what my father wants, my father is dead." She said in a rushed phrase.

Stephen took her hand. "I know it is hard-"

Peggy stood up. "Obviously it is hard, otherwise I would not be in this state, Stephen!"

"My dear, the children are asleep, please keep your voice-"

"Do not tell me what to do!" Peggy snapped.

Stephen stared at her.

Peggy looked down. "I am sorry." Tears rolled down her face. "I should not have opened my mouth, it is all my fault-"

"Shh." Stephen stood up and hugged her. "When you are upset, you snap. It is what you do. It is who you are."

Peggy cried into her husband's shoulder as he stroked her hair.

"Is is not fair, is it?" He asked her. "You have suffered through too much loss."

She nodded. Her sobs had subsided somewhat.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Stephen. Thank you."

"I am just doing what any decent human being would do."

Peggy smiled, and slowly drifted off into a land of serenity and dreams.