She felt safe with him. Safe here on his grounds, surrounded by his security, being fed by his housekeeper. This was a literal dream, just like the one Alice had toppled into.
The forest cascaded all around them. She was reminded of the Cheshire Cat, popping in and out on branches, and she half expected Maddox to have something like that rigged through the path.
The cover of trees blocked out the pastel swirls in the sunset. Soon, the path ended, and their footsteps were soft along the grass carpet.
“So,” Adelie began. “Your name. Is that something I should start calling myself as well?”
“Why do you sound so skeptical about it?”
“I don’t know how far we’re taking this scenario.” She waved her hand between them. For a minute, the only sound between them was their feet on the grass as they neared the pavilion beside the pond.
“I think it could be a good omen for us,” he finally said.
Her brows pinched. “A good omen? How so?”
“Oddly enough, my last name was probably the reason my parents fell in love. Or my mom anyway. Like that Oscar Wilde play, The Importance of Being Earnest? For her, it was The Importance of Being Hatter.”
Adelie laughed. “She named you Maddox Hatter, knowing exactly how it would make you sound?”
“You know, it’s not that strange.”
Considering what some celebrities named their kids these days, she supposed he was right. She couldn’t ignore the implication of his comment, though. His name being romantic and the reason his parents had fallen in love was a good omen for them? Was he saying he was hoping they would fall in love as well? Adelie couldn’t bring herself to ask.
“And Wonderland was your idea, or your mom’s?”
He indicated a small path to the left, though it seemed there were several they could take. Curiosity itched within her to explore the other two paths, but she took the direction he indicated.
“The theme park was hers,” he said. “She always envisioned a Wonderland of her own to wander through and pictured having rides there. I did my best to recreate it for her before she died.”
“That’s really sweet of you.”
“This, though. I didn’t want this in the park. I kept this part of things closer to home.” He gestured to the glassed-over pavilion sprouting from within the cover of trees. It was so well hidden, Adelie guessed even something flying overhead wouldn’t detect it was there.
“What is this?”
“Come on.” He reached the door first and, using a key from within his pocket, unlocked it.
He waited, allowing her to enter first. Light gradually filled the space, whether by a sensor at her entrance or triggered by Maddox somehow, she wasn’t sure. At this point, though, she was too struck by the surrounding artifacts to care.
“What is all this?” she asked, treading along cleverly constructed displays. It seemed to be his own personal museum. A mannequin stood in the corner wearing an antique dress. Collectible items. A single shelf housing a single book.
“My mom’s,” he said. “I told you, she was a fanatic.”
Adelie circled in place. “This was her collection?”
Maddox trotted over to stand beside the mannequin. He ran a hand along the skirt. “Yeah, she’d collected this stuff since she was a kid. This dress was worn by an actress who portrayed Alice in a movie from the 1940s. I nearly had you wear it, but I couldn’t bring myself to take it out of here.”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Adelie said. “I’d hate to be responsible for ruining it.” She meandered toward the shelf. The book’s old cover was brown and tattered. Its title was embossed on the spine. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Adelie’s breath caught. “Oh, my goodness, is that what I think it is?”
“Signed by Lewis Carroll himself,” Maddox said, crossing the small area to join her. “Don’t ask me where she got it from.”
Adelie wanted to hug it. She loved books, but this wasn’t just any book. It was the original. Other books joined it, though they looked like math books.
“This is so incredible,” she said, circling to take in the other objects. A pair of white, kid gloves. A pocket watch. A set of teacups sat on white, braided display stands.
“How did you get all of these?”
“Again, I’m not entirely sure. These were all things we found, intricately labeled, within Mom’s house after she’d passed away.”
“I’m sorry she’s gone,” Adelie said, resting a hand on his wrist.
He glanced around his miniature museum. “Me too.”
“Did she ever get to see this? All of this? Everything you did for her?”
“She saw Wonderland, but not like it is today. It was smaller then.”
“You—” she began, so touched by his thoughtful, outlandish gesture and homage to his love for his mother.
“Me?”
“I don’t even know what to say.” How could she tell him how soft her heart felt in that moment, how drawn to him she was, seeing his tenderness and such care? How, resting his weight on the antique cane the way he was, all he lacked was a top hat and he would fit the part completely?
His gaze flicked to her lips. She cleared her throat and stepped back.
“How’s the rabbit?” Adelie tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’ve thought about him and that traumatic day he had.”
“He’s in here, actually.” Maddox returned the cane to its canister and opened the door to his left. Again, lights flickered on as though by a sensor. Adelie kept close to his side.
The air filled with the scent of animals, wood shavings, and feed. Several feet down, like a lost relic in a tomb, was a huge rabbit cage. Movement caught her eye. It was the twitch of long white ears.
She hurried her pace and hooked a finger through the
