Page 5 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

“Adelia!”The two friends had not seen each other since Adelia had married Franz.“Who is this?”She gestured at the bundle of blankets her dear friend carried.

“This is my son, Josef.”

She peered at the tiny pink face as his mother pulled back the blanket protecting him from the cold.“He’s beautiful, Adelia.”

Francesca and her husband, Johann, appeared as well, and the trio of women shared a joyful reunion.

“You look amazing, Clara.Did you get my last letter?”

“I did, but I hadn’t the chance to write back yet.Congratulations.”Francesca had confided in her that after years of trying, she was to be blessed with a baby in the summer.

This year’s party couldn’t be terrible with her old friends by her side.

The last guest to arrive always used to put a huge smile on her face.He wore his signature aubergine top hat, the same old gray overcoat, and his black eye patch over his left eye.

“Friedrich!Margareta!A happy Christmas to you both!”Godfather Drosselmeyer shuffled in, laden with his bag of presents for the children.

“Happy Christmas to you as well, Godfather Drosselmeyer.”Papa smiled brilliantly, and Mama curtsied as their honored guest kissed the back of her hand.Servants whisked away his hat and coat.Then her godfather stood before her and bowed.

“It’s always good to see you, Godpapa.”

“My dear Clara, you look lovely tonight.You do so take after your mother.”

Clara curtsied, but her attempt at a smile didn’t fool him.

He pulled her aside and looked around with glittering, mischievous eyes.“I have just the thing to cheer you up, child.”Reaching into his bag, the white-haired man produced a familiar wooden soldier.Dark hair, painted blue eyes, a golden crown on his head, and a bright red uniform.

“My Nutcracker!Oh, Godfather…” Her face fell as Mama’s words came back to her.But she couldn’t be rude in the face of the one gift she’d wanted for the last ten years.“I love him.Thank you ever so much.”

“What’s troubling you?”

“I’m afraid I’m too old for Christmas presents such as this.”Tears stung the back of her eyes as she pushed the emotions down and whispered the awful truth.“I’m grown up now.And Papa has decided I shall marry Berengar next year.”Try as she might, she couldn’t keep the disdain out of her voice as she spoke his name.

The Nutcracker’s jaw dropped as she lifted him up to see him one last time.

“You’re never too old for this sort of present,” Godfather Drosselmeyer assured her, pushing the Nutcracker back into her arms.“You’re a dreamer, Clara.”

She sighed and repeated the mantra Mama had drilled into her head since childhood.“Dreams don’t mean anything.”

“No, child.Dreams meaneverything.”The strange man gave her his quirky grin.“And some of them are true.”

What did he mean, they were true?

“Listen to me, child.”Drosselmeyer motioned to her to get closer, then spoke in her ear.“Take him to the clock at the stroke of twelve.You don’t want the mice to catch him again.”

She furrowed her brows at his words, but her eyes widened.Drosselmeyerdidsend her dreams.She knew it!

Then Drosselmeyer did the strangest thing.He spoke to theNutcracker.

“Klaus, I will send two horses to the other side of the portal in the Enchanted Forest.You will have one hour.The mice will be sufficiently distracted, but I can’t be sure their Seers didn’t find you again.Stay vigilant.”Then Drosselmeyer winked at her and turned away.

Clara stood there, flabbergasted.Perhaps her godfather was as crazy as everyone said!

Were Klaus in his true form, he’d be sweating.His Clara was engaged to another?He cursed his current state, but there was nothing he could do except lie in her arms while his uncle passed out toys from his magical sack of gifts.She kept him pressed to her breast, as if worried that someone would take him from her.

When the dancing began, a dark-haired woman dressed in a pale blue gown approached them.

“Daughter, there you are.The grand promenade is about to begin.Berengar is waiting for you.”

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