Philidosia

The Room Where It Happened

Theo holds up her skirts as she half runs, half walks down the sidewalk. Aaron, far behind her, yells for her to wait up. "Why are you so impatient?" he laughs, but Theo ignores him as the Hamilton house comes into view ahead. Theo stomps up the front steps, and knocks rapidly on the heavy wooden door of the Hamilton home. Aaron catches up and hops up the last few stairs before putting a protective arm around his daughter. There are footsteps from the other side of the door, then a voice soft and quiet as silk. "Who is it?"

"Eliza? It's Aaron Burr."

The door opens, and there Eliza stands in a blue dress the color of a cloudy light blue sky. "Sir? It's been awhile, Aaron," she smiles, her gentle eyes taking in Aaron and Theo standing there in the evening night. Theo slips behind Eliza, and races into the house in search of Philip, while Aaron stays and talks with Eliza.

"How's your family been, Aaron? How are the Theodosias?" she asks, smiling shyly.

Aaron takes a minute to answer. Few people knew about the illness his wife was fighting. Not even his own daughter new. Deciding it would be easier to keep the family secret within the family, Aaron lies through gritted teeth, "Fine, they're doing fine. Theo is studying her languages, and doing well in school. My wife, Theodosia, continues to teach Theo piano, and she is becoming quite good."

"Well, Philip seemed very excited to play piano with her today. I've been teaching him a bit, and he seems to be picking up on it quickly," Eliza rubbed her hands together. "You should come in! I just started making some tea. Would you care for any?" Aaron responded with a nod, and they walk into the kitchen. She pours three cups. "I'm going to get Alex," she said, and she walks out of the kitchen and down to Alex's study.

Aaron stares down at the teacup at the black liquid, having no intention to drink anything. He looks around the kitchen at the fancy cupboards and fancy ivory china cups and spoons hanging on display. The Hamiltons sure have a flashy style of life, Aaron thinks vaguely to himself.

Philip is in Angie's room, reading a book as his sister practices her ballet steps around the room. A giggle from the other side of the closed door causes Philip to look up from his page. A large smile breaks his serious expression, and he jumps off the bed and races to the door. Turning the knob, his heart has never beat so hard in his chest. He hears Angie slowly stop her dancing as he makes his way to the bedroom door. Phil can feel his sister's eyes burning into his skin. He ignores her, and opens the door.

She's stunning. The breath is driven from him like it is every time he sees her. Not to say Theodosia is as beautiful as both Angelica Church and Angelica Hamilton, not even close. Theo is more of a girl-next-door-pretty, plain and simple but pretty in her own way, pretty beyond words. She has curly caramel hair and sun-kissed skin. Big brown, innocent eyes fill her face. She is short and slender, the exact opposite of his tall, muscular sister.

Angelica takes a step forward, and gives Theo a mock curtsy. "Hello, Theodosia," she says coldly, the normal warmth and tenderness Phil knew so well in his sister draining from her voice. "Nice of you to stop by."

"Hello, Angelica," Theo answers in the same tone, looking at her from head to toe once. "It's good to see your face." She turns back to Philip.

Her eyes meet his and they both stare at each other for a moment, neither one wanting to be the one to speak first. Finally, Theo is the brave one. "Hey, Philly!" she says sweetly, her smile lighting up the room. Philip greets her with a huge hug, her soft brown hair rubbing against his arms. Theo can still feel Angie watching them, and she wishes she would just go away, but then she remembers this was actually her room. Theo pushes herself away from Philip, her hands still on his shoulders. She smiles at him, and he smiles back. Without meaning to, Theodosia finds herself watching Angie out of the corner of her eye. Philip notices and the look in his eyes changes from gladness to annoyance. "Let's go and play the piano downstairs," Philip suggests, trying to break the ice and get the two girls away from each other.

"Okay!" Theo answers, her eyes not leaving Angie's face. "Come on, Phil." She turns and makes her way out the door, shooting a glance at Angie. Philip turns to follow her, but then spins on his heels at the last second and faces his sister.

"Angelica..."

"Why is she here?" Angie explains, the sass in her voice surprising for an eight year old girl. "You know I don't like her. You know she doesn't like me."

Philip sighs. There are two ways he can go about this. He can stay here and explain to his sister she has no reason to hate his best friend Theodosia. Or he can leave his sister to pout alone in her room and go play piano downstairs. With one last look at his sister, and a disappointed shake of his head, Phil goes downstairs to where Theo is playing scales on the old grand piano keys.

Angie watches him leave. Watches her favorite brother leave. And for that stupid Burr girl. She knows she shouldn't be making such a big deal about this, but she can't stop the tears as the trickle down her cheeks. She stares at the open door across the room from her where her brother had turned his back. The tears fall faster now, and she wipes her eyes furiously to try to stop them. Her throat burns like a fire has been started inside her lungs. She wants to scream for her mother, but with the Burrs over it would be too humiliating.

Speaking of Burr...

"No!" Alexander yells, slapping the table. "I don't care, I really could care less. Shut up, I'm not going to tell you. It would just be one more thing you can use against me."

"What did they say to you, Hamilton? What did they say to you to get you to sell New York City down the river?" Aaron asked, his usual calm voice cracking with eagerness and exasperation. "Just tell me!"

"None of your business, Aaron. You weren't chosen. Sure, you've got skin in the game. But you don't get to win unless you're playing the game. And you never have, Burr. What are you waiting for? Stop waiting for it!"

"Alexander, every word you say guarantees free ammunition for your enemies."

"What are you trying to say, Burr?" Alexander asks, his voice rising above the piano playing in the other room. He is shouting now. "What are you saying, Burr?"

But Burr doesn't answer. He shuts the door loudly behind him as he walks past the piano room to the front door. "Come on, Theodosia," he says without looking away from the door down the hallway.

"What do you mean, Daddy?" Theo asks, looking up at him with innocent eyes from her perch on the piano bench next to Philip.

"We're leaving," he repeats, too fed up with life to bother about hurting his daughter's feeling. Eliza, hearing the yelling from the bedroom down the opposite hall, runs out in a hurry.

"What's wrong, Aaron?" her voice is worried. "Is it something my husband said?"

"I'm leaving, Mrs. Hamilton," he answers coolly. Grabbing his coat from a peg by the door with one hand, he opens the door with the other. Eliza is closer now. Behind her, the beautiful head of the Hamilton daughter peeks from the top of the staircase.

"Aaron, you don't have to leave--"

"Goodbye, Mrs. Hamilton." The door slamming behind them drowns out Theo's yell for Philip.