Bulletproof

Chapter 6

They sat silently at the little table. Every so often she would look up too see if he was watching her, he wasn't. Finally, she had enough "Philip, tell me what happened!" She stood at the same time he did, the chairs screeching against the floor. Theodosia walked up to him "What's the matter?"

"George. . . in the water, I looked for him!" Her heart broke, she had not wanted to ask about George, but now she knew "Oh Philip!" Careful as ever, Theodosia lifted her arms and put them around his neck.
It was like the thread holding him together broke, his eyes filled with tears and he let out a sob. "I just. . . he's all I have." It hurt her that he didn't think she would be there for him, but she decided not to mention that.

"I know Philip." She rubbed his back as he burried his face in her neck. "I'm right here," she whispered "you're okay now." They stayed like that and Theodosia lost count of how long it had been. At last, Philip pulled away "I need to go, working at Mrs. Clement's' today."

Theo caught his hand. "Take me with you." He stared at her as if trying to remember where she had come from. Theo fidgeted with her hands "Its okay if you say n-"

Philip wiped a stray tear and smiled weakly "Okay." He grabbed her hand and didn't let go until they reached the house. Despite her better judgement, Theodosia was happy.

* * *

"You better snatch him up quick." Mrs. Clements, or, Maria as she'd come to know her, said. Theodosia grabbed the pitcher from her and gave her a confused look. Maria sighed "Don't tell me you're blind too!" Theodosia shook her head more confused.

Maria sat down and pointed out at Philip. "You see that boy?" Theodosia nodded "He's lost in loveland," Maria said laughing heartily. It took her a momment to understand, but when she did she shook her head. Maria laughed again "and it seems so are you!" Theo shook her head again. "Philip and I, no, I'm married!" she held up her hand with the wedding band . Maria grabbed her hands "Yes, but do you want to be?" Theodosia considered the question.

"Yes." she nodded "I do." Maria squinted
"Okay, if you say so, but be careful, Hamilton boys have an uncanny habbit of making married women fall for them." Then she stayed silent, looking at Philip like she was remembering someone else.
***

Later that day, as the sun sank into the ocean, Theodosia stomped over to the cliff where she had almost fallen that first day. She had been considering Maria's question and the more she thought about it the madder she got.

She had married Joseph for convenience! If you could even call it a marriage, she never saw him. She only sat with him at important dinners, not moving a finger, playing the role of Joseph Alston's perfect little wife! She let out a scream, she hadn't screamed like that in so long, it felt good, it felt like she was more alive than before. Theodosia tugged at her hair and stomped, then she did something terrible.

Theodosia ripped off her wedding band then threw it off the cliff and walked away with no remorse. What she didn't notice was Philip Hamilton, hovering silently behind a tree.