The Immigrant

Chapter 18| August 15 1798

I walked hurriedly down the street, cursing under my breath about my detrimental mistake, not signing some important papers that John Adams needed by weeks end. My head low, grumbling to myself I also ran into someone. I looked up as I apologized realizing it was Eliza, who greeted me with a smile.
"Why good day Mr.Auditore." Eliza said cheerily.
"How are you today Mrs.Hamilton?" I asked with a nod.
"I am doing very well, thank you for asking." She said with a small curtesy.
My eyes flashed down the street, knowing I must be going.
"I was just walking over to Burr's quarters to talk to you." Eliza laughed.
"Well there's no need to now, what do you nee?" I asked with a smile.
"I heard about your new position of Secretary of The New York City Hall, and I wanted to congratulate you on your accomplishment." Eliza smiled.
I nodded.
"Thank you." I said.
"Anyways I was wondering if you and Aaron Burr would like to come over to our house to dine, in celebration of your achievement?" Eliza asked.
I gave her a bright smile.
"I would love too, I'll ask Burr for his response but I'm sure he'll be delighted to come." I said.
Eliza eyes shone brightly at me.
"Great, the dinner will be held tomorrow night, if that will work with you?" Eliza asked.
I paused then nodded.
"That will work for me." I replied.
"Alright, I'll let Alexander know that you and Burr are coming." Eliza said with a quick smile.
We said our goodbyes as we parted our ways. I smiled to myself as I headed down to City Hall.
The hall was empty, another meeting wasn't going to be held until November.
My footsteps echoed across the hallway. I walked into my office which was seated downstairs and to the left. I sighed as I looked at the mess cluttering my desk. I walked over to some drawers as I flipped through the files upon files of documents. I took out a small gash of the pile as I plopped them down on my desk. I dipped my quill in fresh ink as I began to sign over the hundred or so documents all labeled for Mr.Adams. Hours ticked by ad my had grew tired, the sun shining brightly into the room. Beads of sweat rolled down my face as I brushed them away with the back of my right hand, keeping my left locked onto the paper.
Suddenly there was a small knock on the door, I stopped looking up form my work.
"Yes?" I breathed.
A gentlemen, well in his thirties walked into the room with a unamused look.
"Hello Mr.Auditore." He announced.
"Mr.Lockton." I replied.
"What can I do for you?" I asked.
Mr.Lockton was my supervisor who helped me get settled into the job a couple days ago. He was a fine but tempered gentlemen form Massachusetts and traveled down to New York for only half the year. Frlm the past days I've been working with him, I've never seen him laugh or even smile for that matter.
"Mr.Adams just informed me that he's expecting some documents I pray to god you know what I'm talking about, and he wants them due tomorrow sent to Washington by six at the latest." Lockton huffed.
I sighed as I looked down at the very large stack of what was needed to be done.
"Thank you for informing me." I replied in a dragged tone.
Mr.Lockton narrowed his eyes before existed the room without another word. I ran my hands through my hair as I picked up my quill and presumed my work. Doing almost two hundred signatures, the day flew past as I worked into the night. The flame form the candle danced around the room. I cursed as one of my blisters peeled as I had to stop and wrap a new bandage over my ragged old one. Hours dragged along as it seemed like I barely stopped to breath. Once the last document was signed I laid heavily back in my chair. I flipped open my pocket watch as it just struck eleven. I sighed as I put the documents in a folder and stamped it. I blew out the candles that flickered around the room. Walking heavily to the mail room I plopped the folder onto a desk so it could be shipped to Adams hopefully in a few days.
I dragged my feet up the dead streets. My hand stung with pain as my eyes burned with tiredness.

Thank god tomorrow was Sunday.

I hoped to get a good nights sleep but my nagging thoughts kept my up most of the night. I rested most of the day, sometimes I pondered the study, looking for a book I could set my mind too. Theodoisa and Burr were both at church that morning so I had the whole house free to myself. Until Burr and Theodoisa got back, I curled up on the couch reading a book called "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine, which Angelica had mentioned it to me a few times before. I was lucky Burr had a copy on his shelf.
During the afternoon I helped Theodoisa with her studies and help Burr organize the study. Soon the afternoon slipped into evening.
Burr and I walked down the streets over to the Hamilton's residence. The air was hot and humid, the temperature remained the same as was when the blasted sun was out. We walked in silence as I looked over at my shoulder at Burr. His head was down, fix on his thoughts.
We came up to the cream yellow house as I knocked on the door. I heard shuffling inside as Eliza poked her head out. Her face lit up with she saw us.
"Mr.Burr, Mr.Auditore!" Eliza smiled.
"Please do come in."
Burr and I bowed as we were let inside. The sights of the familiar house swarmed my vision as I smiled at the cozy atmosphere of the house. Eliza rushes towards the kitchen as Burr and I waited in the living room. I looked over at Burr who looked around the room. I laughed quietly with an amused smile as I looked over at the brown and gold piano sitting at one end of the room. It's purely white keys shimmered in the light of the candles. There was shuffling downstairs, as a bright face appeared with a grin.
"Ezio!" Philip cheered.
He walked over to me giving me a big hug. I laughed as I looked back at his shimmering, freckled face.
"It's nice to see you friend." I smiled.
Philip nodded enthusiastically.
"Congrats on your position of Secretary of the City Hall Ezio!" Philip exclaimed.
"Thank you." I laughed.
"That must take a lot of work, God you're so lucky." Philip shook his head.
I laughed nervously. If you actually knew how it was. Philip's gaze turned to Burr as he bowed.
"Mr.Burr sir, it's nice to see you again." Philip greeted.
Burr smiled.
"It's been a couple of years Mr.Hamilton." Burr said his hand outstretched as Philip shook his hand.
"Well if isn't Aaron Burr." A voice pipped up behind us.
We all three turned around to see Hamilton as he smiled to us.
"Alexander." Burr said with a small smile.
"It's nice to see you again." Hamilton said with a small bow.
Alexander's gaze turned to me with a pleased look.
"I head someone has taken the position of Secretary of New York's finest City Hall." Hamilton smiled.
"Yes, it is true, I Ezio Auditore." I laughed.
"It's not easy being secretary of anything." Hamilton wheezed.
"Quite agreeable." I said with a sigh.
Eliza walked up beside us.
"I hate to intrude, but dinner is served." She said softly.
My stomach twisted and turned as I longed for a meal. We filled into the dinning room. I took a seat next to Philip. Eliza and Burr sat on the other side of us. Alexander at the front of the table. I looked hungrily at the roast duck sitting in the middle of the table. Our glasses were filled with red whine as we past around plates of potatoes, salads and a delicious rhubarb pie.
"It looks wonderful Mrs.Hamilton." I marveled once I got everything I wanted on my plate.
"Why thank you Ezio." Eliza smiled.
"A toast to Mr.Ezio Auditore for his prominent position as Secretary of New York's City Hall!" Hamilton exclaimed standing up.
" A toast." Everyone chimed in.
We began to eat the delectable food on our full plates. Some brief conversation spread throughout the table as we talked merrily into the night. Once we were down eating we sat around the living room. Hamilton and Burr were lost in a long argument as Eliza tended to the dishes, I offering to help but she shunned me politely, saying I should enjoy the rest of the evening.
Philip and I laughed the night away as we talked for hours, coming up with more and more stories to amuse ourselves.
"Hey Ezio." Philip laughed.
"Yeah Philip?" I asked.
"One day I'll travel the world and find a new continent to concur and call my own." Philip smiled.
I gave a huff as I though about the intriguing idea.
"Who knows, maybe one day." I replied.
"Like my father once said, you do anything you put your mind to." I said, thinking back on how he said it all the time I wanted to do the impossible.
"That's nice to think about." Philip sighed closing his eyes.
"But that can only happen if I get my ass out of Kings College first." Philip laughed opening one eye.
I laughed.
"Then goddamnit go for it." I smiled.
The night ticked on as it was finally ready to depart. Burr and I finally said our regards and goodbyes, then headed down the dark streets. Not a single word was uttered the whole walk back. I looked over at Burr who looked concerned as he kept his head low.
My eyes were heavy as I crawled up the stairs and into my room. I sighed as I looked down at my desk. I missed writing letters to my uncle. I always knew that I could confide in my uncle whenever I was troubled. Now I stood alone, my family lost to the uttering breaths of the past. With a heavy heart I went to bed. Closing my eyes as I drifted off to sleep...

"Please don't go Giovanni!" My mother  begged.
"I'm sorry but they've asked me to lead." My father deep but soft voice replied.
"You just got back..." My mother chocked.
"Your son misses you, your son wants you to stay and be a father to him." My mother sobbed.
"Shush me amore." My father cooed, rapping his hands around my sobbing mother.
"I'll be back, I promise." My father whispered getting up and disappearing into the streets...never to return back home to his family.