What to Say to You, Theodosia?

Part 2: Theodosia Defeated

Theodosia took her father's hand in hers."Dad, I'm so sorry, I just-"

Burr quickly put his hand up to stop her. It's been a long day for each of them. Burr looked straight ahead and avoided Theodosia's pleading eyes. They kept on walking home in silence for what seemed like an eternity.  Finally, Theodosia was too tired and frustrated.

Theodosia sighed and stepped in front of Burr and crossed her arms."You have to listen! Philip was going to go fight with this boy! It was a good thing I stopped them, right? What if there was a duel?" She knew this was only partly true. Philip would never hurt a soul, or at least that was what she thought of him.

"Theodosia, I saw what you two did in the park. There was more to it than stopping a duel, wasn't there?"

"I- I just..."

"You just kissed the son of my rival. Theodosia, you know what I said about the Hamiltons."

"I didn't even know he was a Hamilton until today!"

"Maybe. Still, you must have known before the little incident I witnessed in the park."

Just like that, Burr stopped the conversation. Theodosia couldn't argue that.  Even then, both were convinced they were right when they entered the house. Burr walked out into the garden while Theodosia hurried up the stairs. She burst into her room and jumped on the bed. For the first time since her mother died, she cried. She stayed there for what seemed like hours, weeping. Finally, she wearily got up, her face still wet. Theodosia knew what to do now. She sat at her desk and began to write:

My Dearest Philip,

I'm so sorry for my father. I'm sure that by now he's already notified your own father. I guess we're in some deep trouble now? Perhaps we can still meet, if you'd like. Go to the park at eight o'clock tomorrow. I'll be there, waiting. No one needs to know.

Love, Theodosia

Muttering, she quickly re-wrote the last line.

Sincerely, Theodosia

Smiling and wiping the tears, she wondered how she'd get the letter to him. Maybe get a friend at the law firm to pass it on? She stifled a giggle. Theodosia was just so relieved. Now she could meet him if only one more time. That would be enough. She couldn't worry about that now.

Dinner was ready as she skipped down the stairs and knew that she'd have to hide her happiness at the table. Her face drained of color when she saw who was eating with them.

"Hello. I see you must be Theodosia?" an older man asked. Philip shifted slightly beside him and mouthed a hello.

"Theodosia, this is Mr. Hamilton. Go on, say hello." her father stiffly said from the other side of the dinner table.

"Hello, Mr. Hamilton," Theodosia curtsied.  "Father, why did you invite them?" She took her own seat beside her dad. She stared at Philip and gave him a puzzled look. He gave one back.

 Burr looked away and stiffly said, "I'm sure you know. There's no use in dancing around it."

"Now, why don't you two explain what happened today? Aaron really just gave me a vague description," Alexander rested his head in his hands. "But I'd love to hear your views."

Burr scoffed.

"Well, I needed to calm down Philip after he read what Mr. Eacker said today. He was so... angry. I thought he would try to duel him."  She winked at Philip while Alexander looked at him curiously. Philip wiped his forehead and looked down.

He looked back up in another expression. He was angry, and this time Theodosia couldn't tell if it was just playing along or real. "Pops, if you had only heard the shit he said about you! I doubt you would have let it slide and I was not about to!"

"Slow down." Alexander smiled.

"POPS!"

"That's no need to duel."

"You need to have had heard-"

"This is not the time." Alexander forced the end of that. For a minute, there was a tense silence.

For a few minutes, or what seemed like days, the four enemies fiddled with their plates. Not one dared to actually eat. Theodosia felt nauseous and Philip couldn't stand a bite. Every few seconds Alexander and Burr glared at each other while Philip and Theodosia would smile at each other. Finally, Alexander, who had stopped the discussion, started it again.

"Theodosia, how'd you calm him down?" he faked a smiled sweetly.

Burr muttered a few words such as 'kiss', 'enemy', and 'son'. Alexander frowned.

Theodosia ignored her father. "We just went to the park." she paused.

"Continue." Burr encouraged.

"Well, we joked together a bit."

Alexander started getting more curious. "And then?"

"Philip told me about how you and Mrs. Hamilton met..." Theodosia sighed. "I thought it was so cute, so we..." she bit her lip.

"So we did it. Together." Philip piped up. "Just a greeting! Not even a real kiss!"

"A bit flirtatious, isn't it?" Burr looked Philip in the eye for the first time. "Why'd you tell Theodosia how Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton met, anyway?"

"We did it as a joke before we went to the park." Philip stared back.

"So the second time it wasn't a 'joke'?" Alexander said seriously.

Philip, realizing his mistake, looked away, ashamed. The Hamiltons excused themselves and left the house. Their plates were left just as full as the beginning. So were Theodosia's and Burr's. No one ate that night.

"Theodosia, I am not blind. I know what happened. I see it." Burr softly said.

Theodosia pushed the plate away. "Dad, so what?"

"What do you mean?"

"So what if a Hamilton and a Burr love each other?"

"We are enemies. If you knew Alexander Hamilton, you'd know to stay away from that family."

"I don't care if Alexander Hamilton is horrible! I'm not in love with him! I'm in love with Philip!"

"Honey, you're not in love. You're young. I know you can meet other boys out there."

"Why should you pick for me? Why should you pick who I love and who I don't?"

"I know a Joseph Alston. Bright young man. You'd like him."

"Who is that?" Tears started to form in Theodosia's eyes.

"I can't believe what you're doing. After all I've done." Burr stood up.

"What have you ever done?" Theodosia forced back a cry. For a second time in one day, she was crying. This time, in front of her father.

"I've fought for you. I've bled for you. I've made the world perfect for you." Burr started to walk back in the garden. "I thought you'd be so much more, Theodosia. I thought you'd be so much better."

Theodosia covered her tears with her hands. This was too much. She burst out in frustration. Theodosia choked back tears when she heard the door slam shut, leaving her alone in the room. Horribly alone.