Apology Not Accepted

Chapter 3: Family Reunion

The second he took a step in the house, Philip was tackled by 5 bodies. Sitting up, He looks at his siblings with watering eyes. They were crying and rambling on how much they missed him. A shadow looked over all of them. Angelica stood there with a book in her hand. "Angie....." She pulled him up and stared with a calm look on her face. The silence stayed until a tear dripped from her eye. The other children stood up and hugged her. Philip wrapped his arms around them all. "I'm sorry, you guys." Alexander Jr smiles and pats his shoulder. "It's alright, Philip. At least you didn't die."

That sentence seemed to bring Angelica back from her emotional state. "Oh I almost forgot." She smacked him upside the head with the book. "I didn't get to do this because I didn't want to disturb the other patients." Philip tried to protect himself from the onslaught. Angelica just swung harder. "WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?! DAD WAS PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF HANDLING THAT SITUATION HIMSELF BUT NO!! YOU JUST HAD TO DUEL HIM, HUH?!" Eliza quickly snatches the book from her hands and runs off. Alex Jr held Angelica back when she jumped for him. John, James, and William stood in front of him, ready if she broke loose. "I said I'm sorry. Damn girl." Philip rubs his slightly bleeding forehead. Eliza comes in with a wet cloth and a small bandage. "Watch your language, Philly." She leads him to the couch and sits him down. The others come in after a while and sits down on the couch on the and strike up conversation with their brother.

Alexander and Eliza walk in holding each other and smile at their family. Eliza lets go of her husband and knocks on the wall to get the kids attention. Their head snap towards the noise with interest in what their mother has to say, plus if they didn't, god have mercy on their asses. "I know you're all excited to have Philip home but there's still dinner to prepare. Boys, go get Philip's present and get the table set. Girls, I need your help in the kitchen please." The Hamilton kids nod and go off to do as they were asked. Alex sits down next to Philip after everyone's gone. "Pops, I was thinking..." Alexander looks at his son and nods, urging him to continue. "Do you think I could go overseas. Not that I don't like life here, I love it here, but I want to see what else is out there, you know?"

Philip looks up when he feels a hand on his shoulder. "I understand. I felt the same way when I was living in Nevis. I felt stuck. But people around me saw potential in me and supported me." Alex turns and looks at Philip with a wide smile and receives an equally wide one in return. "Philip, that's exactly what I'm going to do for you. Where do you want to go? For how long as well because Angelica and your mother is going to miss you." Philip eye's light up and he looks towards the fireplace. "I've always felt like going to India. A completely different environment. New foods, new language, different tools, " "New women to hit on?" Philip's face turns red and he scratches his cheek. "Maybe." Alex laughs and stands up, "Let's go. Food's probably ready."

Walking into the kitchen, they were met with the sight of fresh bread, steak, chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, collard greens, cabbage, and black eyed peas. Philip's mouth waters at the sight as he sat down at the end of the table. Angelica and Eliza Jr, and his mother sit at his left side John, James, and William sit at his right. At the head of the table, Alex bows his head and grabs Eliza's hand. The children holds hands and bow their heads as well and Alex begins prayer.

The candles flicker casting a soft light around the room. Eacker sits on his couch reading a new book he bought the week before, sipping a glass of red wine. The peace was disrupted by a loud knocking at his door.

Getting up and opening the door, Eacker is greeted by a skinny boy about the age of 17. The boy's blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. "H-Hello sir, I'm Benjamin." The boy stutters out, shifting his stance damn near looking like a skittish deer during hunting season. "What's your business here?" Benjamin pulls out a newspaper and hands it over to George.

"Hamilton is out of the hospital and is in perfect health." George reads the first sentence aloud. 'Good.' He looks up then back up to Benjamin. "Why did you give this to me?" The boy takes a step back and puts his head down. "I just thought you should know that he's alive." Eacker nods and goes to close the door. "Thank you." Benjamin stops it with his foot. "Wait!" George frowns and opens the door again. "What?" He didn't have the time nor patience for this.

"Did you really mean to kill him?" Benjamin asks, his hands clenching into tight fists. Eacker just looks at him briefly before shaking his head. "No, I didn't." He dismisses the boy and closes the door. The eerie silence of his empty house swarmed over him, loneliness consumed him like a serpent. Maybe he really should make things right.