Philidosia

Dear Theodosia

"Momma, which do you like better?" Theo asks, looking up from her piano at her mother sitting across the room on her reading chair. "This one..." She plays a short, mournful chord and a trill that makes her heart jump. She looks back at her mother, who smiles approvingly. "Or this." The chord is different this time, more minor with a few notes that clash and sent shivers up her spine. The trill is with the same notes as the first, but faster and sounding more like a skittish mouse.

Theodosia puts a finger on her lips, and ponders. Looking at her daughter, she says, "The second one, Theo. It's more emotional." Theo nods, and turns back to the piano.

"I like it more, too. And see how much better it sounds with this part?" Theo plays a scale and strikes a few keys that seem to tell a story of sadness and bitterness. "Have you heard this bit here?" she asks her mom. "I wrote it this morning. Please tell me if you like it, Momma." Using the tips of her fingers, three long, slow notes seem to flow from inside her. The keys are low and melancholy. It had taken her a very long time to find the notes she needs. At least half an hour of messing around with the keys, and by luck, she had found the perfect three. Closing her eyes, Theo plays from her heart every sad moments she has ever experienced in her life. One chord.

"Why, that's incredible!" Theodosia laughs, leaning forward and applauding her daughter. "I like it very much. My favorite part was the three notes you put together."

"Daddy?"

Aaron glances up from his desk at his daughter's words. He drops his quill and rolls his shoulders uncomfortably as the gaze of his two Theodosias sweep over him. "Uh, yeah, I like it a lot, too, sweetie."

Theo rolls her eyes and sighs exasperatedly. "You weren't even paying attention, Dad." Aaron's wife laughs at the comment, and flips her book open again.

"Have you played this new part for... him?" she asks, raising her eyebrows teasingly. She shoot a look to Aaron, who isn't paying attention and has gone back to writing his letter.

Theo rolls her eyes for the second time, but blushes heavily as her mother mentions him. "Not yet." She fumbles with the keys for a moment, lost in thought, then turns back to Theodosia. "Do you think he'll like it?"

"Dear, he'll love it! It's beautiful. Plus, Philip loves anything you play." The two share a girly giggle, and Aaron looks up at the mention of the young boy's name.

"Who? That Hamilton boy? What about him?"

Theodosia laughs loudly and stands up from her chair, placing the mark in her book. She saunters over to Aaron and nuzzles his hair. He looks up at the blond-haired woman with surprise. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed how handsome that Hamilton boy is. Or that Theodosia is deeply in love with him." Theodosia falls tragically into the loveseat beside her husband's desk and puts a hand against her forehead.

"Mom," Theo whispers embarrassedly with an edge to her voice. "It's just a crush. You're so dramatic sometimes."

"Oh, so it's just a crush now? Honey, you write him these songs and you never stop talking about him. It's more than just a crush, Theo."

"I'm only nine, by the way. Stop teasing me." She blushes again, and pushes a curly strand of mousy blond hair behind her ear. "He's my really good friend."

"Well, you are way too young to date, young lady. You don't need to marry until you are twenty-three. In fact, I will not allow it," Aaron adds.

"Twenty-three?" Theo explains, outraged. "Dad, that's way too old. All my friends will be married when their nineteen. I'll pretty much be an old lady by the time I'm twenty-three."

"Well, the only man you need in your life right now is your father." Theo sticks her tongue out at him. "Now, you--"

"Why don't we play something on the piano together?" Theodosia asks, breaking the ice. "You haven't sat here for a while, Aaron." Aaron huffs, but makes his way to the piano and slides onto the bench beside his daughter. Theodosia sits on the other side of Theo, who looks up at her two parents and smiles.

Aaron looks down at the keys and ponders for a moment. Then, he leans forward and plays a G chord. Theodosia hums to the familiar melody as his large fingers hit against delicate keys. Theo watches her dad playing, and closes her eyes as his voice floods her ears like a gentle wave.

"Dear Theodosia, what to say to you? You have my eyes, you have your mother's name... when you came into the world you cried, and it broke my heart." Theo let the words lull her into a sense of calmness. "I'm dedicating every day to you. Domestic life was never quite my style--"

"When you smile," Theodosia comes in, singing a beautiful harmony. Her eyes meet Aaron's and they lean in towards Theo, who buries her head in her father's shoulder and squeezes her mother's hand. "You knock me out, I fall apart. And I thought I was so smart..."

"I love you, " Theo whispers into her dad's shoulder. He leans down to kiss her forehead and murmurs, "I love you, too, Theodosia. Don't ever forget that."