Chapter 7
Promises Promises
Alice paid the cabbie with the $20 she'd stuffed in the little beaded purse. It was empty now. The doorman tipped his hat at her as he opened the door. "I'm sorry, Rogers, I gave my last dime to the cabbie"
"Quite all right Miss Hamilton. Mr. Chase is very generous. He went out earlier. I don't think he's back yet."
"Thank you. If he's not here, I'll wait" Alice rode up the elevator wondering what she'd say to Jack.
Alice held the button down till Jack finally opened the door and stood staring at Alice. No jacket, shirt half unbuttoned, he looked ….. unkempt. He held a drink. Alice frowned, she'd never seen Jack drink anything except wine at dinner.
"Alice!" He tried to smooth his hair down. "What are you doing here!" He looked behind him, then opened the door to let her in. The light from one lamp left the apartment almost dark. Gulping down his drink he asked her if she would like a drink. His red jacket and tie were tossed on the floor.
Alice walked to the wall of windows and stood looking down on the city lights. She wondered if Wonderland City sparkled so at night.
"No thanks." Alice said thinking of champagne. "I said I would talk, remember?"
She watched Jack's reflection, filling his glass. Something was wrong. Very wrong. 'Jack?"
"I didn't think you'd come. How was your fancy dress party?" He walked over to stand beside her looking out the window.
"Jack I need you do something for me." Alice smiled at his reflection. She swallowed. It was hard to hold her temper in, since chances were good that Jack was the one who had taken Hatter.
"I was afraid to tell you about your father. I was afraid you wouldn't listen, wouldn't believe me." Jack explained ignoring her question. "And when I fell in love with you it was too late." He shook his head, staring at his drink, swirling the ice cubes. "Too late."
"Jack, I need you to take me to Wonderland." Alice put her hand on his arm. "Some men took Hatter thru the Looking Glass. He's hurt. Please help me"
"I wanted to tell you. Caterpillar said you would never believe me." Jack looked out the window, ignoring her hand. "You wouldn't have either. I do love you, Alice. You must believe me"
"Jack! Listen to me!." Alice took the drink out of his hand and punched his arm to get his attention. "I have to go to Wonderland."
"Did you ever love me Alice?" He looked down at her. "Did you care for me at all?"
"I…Yes, I ….thought so" Alice sets his glass on the window sill. "I need you take me to Wonderland. Right now."
"Wonderland? Why would I take you to Wonderland." He laughs and shakes his head trying to clear it.
"Jack." Alice stopped not knowing what else to say. "Hatter is hurt and I have to find him."
"Him!" Jack stood up straight and sneered "Tell me I have no reason to be jealous. Tell me that!" He slumped again. "You were going to kiss him. You ran off to the forest with the first scruffy nobody you met"
"I told you I'd changed. I wanted something else. And I was trying to get you out of the casino… at first" Alice said holding the scream inside.
"He can go to.…to.…he can go someplace." Jack pulled away from her and flopped down on the couch. He looked around for the drink he had just a minute ago.
"Jack what's wrong with you? Are you drunk?" Alice sat on the opposite sofa, skirts flounced up around her. Jack's attention was caught by the crystals flickering in the lamplight.
"I've seen that dress before." He squints at it. "I'm sure of it."
"Jack, please listen to me! I must go to Wonderland. Tonight."
Jack looks up at her face. "Too late to go anywhere tonight. In the morning maybe."
"Jack I need to go now. Who knows how much time has passed!" Alice jumped up and paced around the room. "Jack if you ever cared for me, please do this."
"It's not like you've never stayed here before."
"No! Take me now or I'm leaving. Take me to Wonderland Jack or I will never speak to you again!" Alice stomped her foot.
He laughed. "It's so cute when you do that." He lounged back on the sofa. "Alice, Alice." He laughed again watching her. "What happened to my drink?"
Alice growled and went towards the bathroom. How could she still look so beautiful when her insides were screaming?. She saw some blood on her fingers from the bowtie. She stared at a long time before washing it off. When she came back to the living room, Jack was asleep on the couch.
Taking a deep breath, she held the scream inside. Alice checked both his hands to see if by chance he had the ring on. No such luck. Not in his pants pockets either. She ran to the bedroom and searched as fast as she could. Not finding it, Alice went back to the living room and threw the beaded purse hitting Jack in the face. He woke up and stared at it.
"Jack what is wrong with you?" She paced back and forth some more.
"My head hurts. Alice? What are you doing here?"
Alice cried out in rage and plopped down on the couch beside Jack. Who immediately turned and put his arms around her, kissing her face over and over.
"I knew you'd come. Knew you loved me."
Alice pushed at him and twisted around to avoid his kisses. "Alice darling, hold still." His arms tightened around her. Suddenly Jack found himself on the floor looking up at an angry Alice. "Alice? That hurt."
"Later. Right now we're going to Wonderland. Where's your jacket?" Alice jumped up went to get his red jacket and tie. "Get up Jack. It's time to go." She held out her hand to him. He shook his head and frowned, but stood and took the jacket. He quickly buttoned his shirt and put on the tie.
"Wonderland? You want to go to Wonderland?" He smiled. "That's a wedding dress isn't it?" Putting on the jacket, he handed Alice the beaded purse. Jack took a cellphone out of his pocket and sent a quick text to his Suits.
He kept his hand on her back all the way down the elevator and out the doors. Alice ran out to wave down a cab while Jack spoke to the doorman. "Wish me happy Rogers. Miss Hamilton and I are getting married." Jack grinned. "Leaving for Vegas right now."
The cab took forever to get across town and it was very late when they got out and walked up to the Looking Glass. Jack pulled her back and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so happy Alice." She twisted out of his arms and glanced up at the ceiling to see if Ferret was there. He was. She couldn't see his eyes, but knew they were accusing.
"Hurry Jack, it's late." Alice pulled him towards the Looking Glass. "We don't have much time." He stepped partly thru holding tightly to her hand. When her hand was thru, she turned to look up at Ferret. "I'm going to get Hatter." And she was gone.
Ferret sighed and jumped down. He reached up to tap the top left corner of the frame twice. Counted to twenty and stepped thru.
