Aaron
There were days when nothing got under Aaron’s skin. And then there were days when he saw so much red he could shoot someone. Today was the latter. Alexander had once again pulled something seemingly out of his ass just before the jury was sent out that changed the entire case and saved a literally hopeless client. He was happy that they’d won, of course, but goddamnit he would never understand how Alexander had once again flown by the seat of pants and succeeded where ages of his research had not.
And of course it had always been like this. Alexander had blustered into class one day looking a mess, and Aaron was sure he was a destined drop out. Then he opened his mouth and Aaron was sure he’d be expelled. But before either of them knew it, they were sharing the Valedictorian speaking time at graduation, and then an office at a law firm downtown, and then their own (God help them) law firm uptown.
But nothing had changed since that fateful day. Alexander was still prone to sudden breakthroughs of seeming genius that were hope, prayer, and metaphorical duct tape. And Burr was still infuriated by his ability to pass off these moments as almost well thought out plan. It often undermined his work and, on a more basic level, Burr felt it wasn’t fair. What had happened to the days when his careful methods had brought him the utmost success over those who rushed in headlong?
With a deep sigh, he sat back from his computer and decided to stop dwelling on his ever growing irritation with Alexander. As a distraction from his ire, he checked his phone. His heart leapt at the message. It was from Theo.
From Theo: Dad, we need to talk. Are you free for lunch? We can go to that diner near your office you pretend not to like.
He didn’t hesitate. If his daughter needed him so badly that she was willing to come from school in Jersey then there was no way he’d refuse her.
To Theo: Can you meet me there at one?
From Theo: Sounds good. Love you Daddy! <3
Aaron’s heart warmed. She might be in college now but she was still his little girl. He set his phone timer for 12:50pm and got back to work.
Aaron strolls into the diner five minutes before one, excited to see his daughter if a little worried that she’d seemed to want to talk so urgently. He’s surprised to see her already seated at his favorite booth and lost in thought with shakes for both of them (vanilla for him, strawberry for her). He sits down with a smile and a “Hey Theo,” causing her to jump before smiling nervously at him.
“Hey Dad,” she says, voice a little shaky. “So, how’s work?” Aaron resists the urge to roll his eyes and grumble about Hamilton, opting instead to confront the matter at hand.
“Less important than whatever you wanted to talk to me about”, he answers. His concern only grows with the ill-hidden alarm on Theo’s face. “Whatever it is,” he continues, “I promise I won’t love you any less.” Theo’s alarm turns to skepticism.
“I’m not entirely convinced,” she replies, scrunching her face. Aaron cocks his head, brow furrowing in askance and Theo attempts to clarify. “How much, exactly, do you hate Hamilton?” Aaron’s confusion increases.
“What’s he got to do with . . . are you avoiding the subject?” Aaron asks suspiciously. Theo sighs.
“The easy thing is this: I’m poly. I’m in a polyamorous relationship with two great guys who go to Columbia. I want you to meet them soon,” she says, before looking away and chewing on her lip for a moment. “The hard thing is who they are, or rather, who one of them is.” Aaron is semi-relieved. He had thought Theo’s news was going to be something truly terrible.
“I’m glad you came out to me sweetheart,” he says, encouragingly. “And I would love to meet your boyfriends . . .” he pauses, waiting on their names. Theo takes a deep breath and sets her shoulders but still doesn’t look at him.
“Georges Washington Lafayette-Mulligan,” she pauses, steeling herself, “and Philip Hamilton.”
“I’m sorry what?” Aaron asks, hoping just a little that he had misheard the second name. Theo looks him in the eye.
“One of the boys I’m dating is Philip Hamilton. I have to get back to campus. Love you, bye.” she says and before Aaron can collect himself enough to respond, she has left eight dollars on the table for their shakes and is rushing through the door. After a few minutes, Aaron stands and returns to work. He ends up not really having lunch.
“Aaron Burr, sir!” the familiar voice rings out, sounding almost jovial. “I’ve barely seen you for a week!” Aaron steels himself for the ensuing conversation as Hamilton’s hurried steps catch up to him on the mostly empty street. “Have you been avoiding me?”
For once, Aaron speaks before he thinks. “Yes,” he snaps, tense, and then continues because he’s already started so why the fuck not? “I don’t particularly like you. Haven’t for years. But I have tolerated you as an acquaintance and am working on doing better because. . .” Aaron pauses, gritting his teeth in a way that makes his jaw twinge with pain.
“I know,” Hamilton says quietly, before smiling with a wistfulness Aaron has never seen out of him before. “I’m not oblivious you know. You haven’t ever liked me, even if you’ve tolerated and worked with me. And now our kids are dating.” Aaron blinks, a little shocked. “I know I’m a lot,” Hamilton continues, “in near every sense of those words. But for what it’s worth I’m sorry for having been such an irritant to you.” With his apology given he nods and makes to leave, but Aaron stops him with a hand on his shoulder.
“Hamilton, Alex, please, wait,” he requests, before cracking a smile at the irony of a role reversal years in the making. “I forgive you,” he says, “and for what it’s worth, I apologize as well.”
Hamilton smiles at him, more genuinely happy this time, and squeezes the hand on his shoulder before pulling away and turning the opposite direction to head home. And as Aaron watches his back retreat, he realizes that it’s the first conversation between them in which every word spoken was genuine.