To Love A Nutcracker

Chapter 26

Sometime later, Lucifer sent for a carriage to take them down the street where clockmaker lived with his wife. Through the ride, Charlotte could not stop herself from thinking of all that had happened before she awoke this morning. Images of that wonderful kingdom played about her in sweet, rustling tones. She could bring them all back again, whenever she fixed her thoughts steadfastly upon them, and hence it came, that, instead of playing, as she formerly did, she would sit silent and thoughtful, musing within herself.

When the carriage arrived at the house, they were greeted by Rosie who welcomed them inside and escorted them into a quaint yet lovely room where a table set with tea, sweets, and breads waited for them. Once they had all sat down and said good morning, Lucifer apologized to Rosie for his behavior toward her and her husband the night before.

"Water under the bridge my good man." She said pouring the tea. "I'm just glad that we're all able to remain friends."

"Aunt Roise." Charlotte spoke to her godmother. "Where is Uncle Husk?"

"Wouldn't you know it? Our old clock broke down again and once again he had to fix it. Hopefully it will stay fixed this time." She chuckled.

"Can I...Can I talk to you and Uncle Husk about something?"

"What about?"

"Well..." She wasn't sure how to word it. Especially with her parents here. "This morning when I woke up, my nutcracker was gone. Do you know where he is?"

"Of course. He's in Husk's workshop. We didn't feel right leaving you with a broken doll, so last night, before we left, we crept back into your room while you were asleep and brought it home to fix it."

Charlotte immediately stood up from the table and hurried down the hall to where she knew Husk's workshop to be. She had been there many times, when Rosie would babysit her, she would go down there and watch him work.

"Uncle Husk! Uncle Husk!" She called entering the room full of tools, gears, and a few clocks. She found her godfather standing on top of an old ladder, making sure that it was still in good condition. Charlotte had barged in so suddenly that he almost fell off.

"Whoa! Take it easy doll, you want me to leave Rosie a widow?" He said regaining his balance.

"Where is he?"

"Where's who?" Husk asked coming down from the ladder.

"My nutcracker! Rosie said that he was in here with you!"

"He is, but I can't imagine why you would want to see him so badly? I mean he is just an ugly hunk of wood you know."

"He is not!" Charlotte defended fiercely. "And you know that, don't you? You know that he's not really a nutcracker right?! He's really your nephew, isn't he?! Please tell me that I'm right! That what happened wasn't just a dream!"

"Now calm down. You'll worry your parents acting like this."

"I'm sorry but you have to tell me the truth! Please! I have to know what's real! And I...I have to be with him! I love him Uncle Husk! Even if he's changed back into a nutcracker and isn't a prince anymore, I'd still love him! I would never scorn him like Mimzy did! I just want to know that he's real and if there's a way I can be with him!"

"Charlotte what in the world has gotten into you?" She heard her father ask.

He, her mother, and Rosie were left feeling very concerned by Charlotte's behavior and followed her after her as soon as she left the table. A very long and awkward silence had formed in the room, as no one knew what to say in that moment. Poor Charlotte, she didn't know how to answer that. How would she explain all this to her parents? Even if they had now become more open minded, they would never believe her story. What was she going to do?