Chapter Thirty-Seven
June 15th, 1912
Philidelphia, Pennsylvania
The group of women plus Jack entered a dimly lit bar. There were many business men in suits with their neck ties done down loosely. Karina led the group to the far end of the bar that didn't have many people. She smiled over at Jack and Rose.
"Allow me to buy da first round for da lucky couple!" Karina smiled, lovingly. "Bartender! A round of mint julep, please!"
"What's mint julep?" Rose asked, watching as Jack began unshelling a peanut. She then noticed that bowls of peanuts were placed throughout the bar. "And why are there nuts everywhere?" Rose was so fascinated by the bar scene.
"A mint julep is a cocktail with bourbon and mint in it," Jack explained with a grin, "and there are peanuts everywhere because they're good to eat while getting drunk. They'll keep your stomach from getting upset." He finally unshelled the nut and popped it into his mouth.
"Rose, you've never been to a bar?" Anne asked.
"Never." Rose shook her head. Just then, the group was served their drinks. The beverage was in a stout glass cup. The inside looked to be the same light brown as tea and had mint leaves accenting the top of it. Karina held her glass up.
"To da lucky couple! We know you're wedding is going to be fabulous!" Everyone raised their drinks up together and then began drinking. Rose cautiously brought the drink to her lips, "Rose Dear, drink! Do not think!" Rose looked over to Jack who seemed to be enjoying the drink. Rose let out a breath and threw her head back, downing nearly half the drink. At first, it burned. Rose's eyes watered and she coughed a bit. Jack rubbed her back slowly, "It's got a kick, yes?" Karina called from where she had already finished her drink.
"Yes..." Rose replied, wiping the tears away, "I'm not much of a drinker."
"It gets easier." Rose told her.
"Mint juleps are so weak," Nina complained, "Bartender, I'd like a round of vodka!"
"Vodka?" Rose perked up to this, "Isn't that stuff really strong?"
The bartender lined small shot glasses before the group, pouring the clear liquid into them. He then pushed them forward. Nina smiled, "Here's some real alcohol!"
"You think us Russians don't love Vodka?" Karina gave her a friendly grin. Karina pulled a cigarette out of her silver case. "Anyone?" Karina offered her cigarettes out. Jack reached forward and grabbed one for himself. Karina lit her cigarette, then handed Jack her lighter. He puffed his a few time. The group held their drinks up again, then all downed them. Rose went into another coughing fit.
"That was worse!" Rose cried, shaking her head against the bitter taste and burning sensation.
"I'll buy you something you like." Jack kissed her cheek. She could smell the alcohol and smoke on his breath, "Bartender, can I get one Long Island Iced Tea?"
"What's that?"
"It tastes just like tea, but has a lot of good alcohol in it to make you feel good."
The bartender set the tea like drink in front of Rose. It even had a little umbrella for show. Rose brought the straw to her lips and sucked. She could barely taste the alcohol. She looked over at Jack with a grin. "I like it. I like it a lot."
"Just stick to that, then. I'll take another shot of vodka!" The bartender filled his drink up. Rose watched with great interest as Jack threw his head back and downed the drink that smelled of terrible chemicals to Rose.
"I'll out drink you, Jack!" Nina challenged. "Another shot, please! Come on, Anne! Let's out drink this guy!" Anne giggled.
"I'll stay with my mint julep, thank you."
Rose took another large suck out of her straw, her head nearly spinning after a shot and whole mint julep. Jack ordered another shot for himself, while Nina and Karina clanged drinks together.
...
"Come Josephine in my flying machine!" Jack hiccuped, knocking an empty shot glass over.
"Up she goes!" Rose sang along, sloppily, on her fourth Long Island Iced Tea.
"Rose... Rose, I don't know the whole song." Jack told her, pressing his hand to his forehead, "Oh my god, yes I do. I... I just... I just can't remember the words. D-do you?"
"Balance yourself," hiccup, "like a bird... a bird on the beam!" Rose continued.
"Yes!" Jack said, slamming his fist onto the bar, making the glasses jump, "Oh my god you know. That's my girl. I... I taught you well."
"I love it when you call me your girl," Rose said, finishing her drink. "Are you... gonna drink that?" She pointed to the small shot of vodka Jack hadn't drank yet.
"You want this? I... I thought you didn't like vodka."
"I think she's drunk enough." Nina walked over to him, clearly wasted herself. "Let 'er have it, Jack. She... she deserves it."
"You do deserve it, Rose," Jack pushed the drink to her, nearly off the side of the counter. Rose threw her head back effortlessly and downed it. She then slammed it onto the bar counter. "You have done nothing but... but take crap from everybody! You deserve everything in the world."
"Oh hush," Rose punched him on the arm.
"I'm serious!"
"Nina! Nina!" Karina rushed over, also drunk. "Look over at dat booth. See those men?" Nina, Jack, and Rose looked over to where Nina was pointing. Some men who were retiring from their long day of work were sitting over there, still in their suits, "They're interested," hiccup, "... in us! Let's go!" Karina grabbed Nina's arm and began yanking her after her.
"Oh, la la!" Nina nearly shouted, drawing the attention of many people in the bar.
Anne giggled from where she was, "I think... I'm gonna go home while I'm sober."
"You're not sober," Jack accused.
"I'm not as drunk as you." Anne said as she walked past the couple.
"Hey!" Jack called after her, "You gonna be alright?"
"Yes, Mr. Dawson. Good night and congrats you two."
Rose began picking open a shell, "Can you... order me another iced tea?"
"Yeah," Jack nodded. He snubbed his cigarette out in a nearby ash tray, "Hey, bartender. Can I get a brandy and another Long Island Iced Tea." A few moments passed before the drinks were set in front of Jack and Rose. "Isn't drinking great?" He sighed as he drank some of his liquor.
"I remember... remember having fun doing it at that steerage party," Rose agreed as she popped a peanut into her mouth, "I feel... fantastic." She suddenly let out a loud belch.
"I bet you feel way better now," Jack broke into a laugh, drinking more of his brandy.
"Oh, if only my mother could see me, now!" Rose let out a hiccup. She looked across the bar to see Nina sitting in the lap of a business man and Karina holding onto the tie of a man sitting beside her. "Look at Nina and Karina. They're such... modern women!"
"Whaddya mean?" Jack looked over his shoulder.
"They don't wanna get married... they want to play around." Rose told him, taking a long drink of her iced tea, "It's such a new way of thinking. A bunch of women aren't marrying anymore."
"You're okay with being married, right?" Jack asked, "I didn't force you to marry me, right?"
"Of course not!" Rose grabbed his hand, nearly missing it in the process, "I love you, Jack. Do you know where I'd be right now if I had stayed in my old life?" She took a long drink of her tea. A smile threatened Jack's face, "I'd be... who the hell knows where." Rose waved her hand in the air, dismissvely, "You know what, Jack? Who cares where I would be in my other life? It's time... time to just let it go. I don't care what would have happened if I married Cal. That guy is history. Who knows where he is. And do I care? No!" She let out a rolling laugh, "All that matters is right now. That... that I'm sitting right here with you and I feel awesome."
"I swear to god, you're my soulmate." Jack kissed her hands sloppily. He finished his brandy and pushed it away from me. "Finish that drink, let's pay, and let's go home."
"Yes!" Rose's eyes lit up, "Let's go home and have sex." The couple went into more laughter. Rose began sucking her drink down. "Go pay!" Rose waved him off as she continued sucking the drink down. Jack staggered out of his stool and crossed to where Karina and Nina were with their male suitors.
"Rose and I... we're gonna... gonna pay and go home. You two gonna be alright?"
"Yes, yes!" Nina waved her hand to him, "We'll be home soon."
"Okay," Jack hiccuped and straightened up, "Jus' making sure. Come on, Rose!" Rose jumped off her bar stool and stumbled to Jack, lacing her fingers through his. "Let's go home. Thank you ladies for the joint bachelor/bachelorette party. It was greatly appreciated."