When he had mentioned fond memories of the winter solstice celebrations he had attended as a child, Celesta had taken it upon herself to recreate them as well as she could. Evergreen boughs and garlands of popped corn and cranberries were draped festively around the room, wreaths hung over the doors, and he could even spy a sprig or two of mistletoe. He breathed in the fragrant scents of pine mixed with the sweet, spiced cider, and was instantly flooded with the memories and warm feelings of home.
A figure entered the door and stood beside him. “It’s amazing the difference a few years can make, isn’t it?” Drosselmeyer asked in his warm, pleasant baritone.
Alex turned to greet the wizard with a hearty handshake and friendly slap on the back. “It is,” he answered, turning his attention back to where Celesta was dancing back and forth amongst her guests, greeting each one with a sunny smile. “Four years ago I was a broken soldier in an empty shell, sure that I would never find home again. Now...” his words trailed off and he shrugged, unable to find the right words to adequately express his feelings.
“Now you have a home, and that shell around your heart has been cracked and replaced by more love than you know what to do with,” Drosselmeyer answered for him, a knowing twinkle in his bright eyes.
Alex’s face heated and he shifted on his feet. Celesta’s penchant for sharing her feelings may have brushed off on him a little, but it was still slightly uncomfortable to share so openly. “Yes.”
“Uncle Drosselmeyer!” Clara’s excited yell preceded the blur of red as she dashed across the room towards them and launched herself at the wizard.
He caught her easily in midair and spun her around with a laugh. “How is my favorite goddaughter?”
“I thoughtIwas your favorite goddaughter,” Celesta protested with a frown as she greeted Drosselmeyer with a kiss to his bearded cheek.
“I can have more than one favorite.”
“How is that supposed to work?”
“Don’t question the ways of wizards,” Drosselmeyer answered with a wink. He slipped a hand into the front of his coat and pulled out a handful of peppermint sticks.
Celesta took one eagerly and stepped over to Alex, wrapping an arm around his waist and nestling close to his side. “Was your trip successful?”
He shook his head slowly, and his bright eyes suddenly turned tired. “Not this time. But I’m hopeful. It’s only a matter of time before the wind blows back around again.”
A somber silence fell over them, at odds with lively music in the background.
“Uncle Drosselmeyer, Uncle Drosselmeyer!” Clara’s whispered words broke the silence. She pulled urgently at his sleeve. “Did you bring presents for anyone?” Her wide eyes looked up at him with longing.
“Clara…” Alex started to reprove her, but Drosselmeyer just laughed and set the child on the floor.
“By anyone, I suppose you mean yourself, don’t you, my little princess?”
Clara nodded emphatically, her dark curls bouncing against her shoulders.
“Well, it just so happens that I do have a present for you. Close your eyes.”
Drosselmeyer reached once more into his jacket and pulled out a paper-wrapped parcel, narrow and about ten inches long. He placed it into Clara’s waiting hands.
She immediately tore into the paper and held up her prize with a cry of delight. Celesta let out an amused laugh.
“Papa, it looks just like you!”
In Clara’s hands was a wooden soldier, complete with a red jacket, tall hat, polished boots, and wooden sword. It did indeed bear a striking resemblance to Alex, with the exception of its wide mouth.
Alex gave the wizard a flat look. “You didn’t.”
“Look, he can talk!” Clara moved a lever on the back of the soldier, causing the mouth to open and close.
“He’s a soldier of many talents,” Drosselmeyer said, lowering himself to one knee in front of her. He pulled out an almond, still in the shell, and showed Clara how to place the nut in the soldier’s mouth and guided her hands in pushing the lever down so that the shell cracked.
“It’s a nutcracker!” Celesta sidled over and looked up at him with an expression of glee.
“Yes,” he answered drily.
“And it looks like you.”
Alex raised his eyebrows, but said nothing, waiting for the inevitable.
