“I worked it out,” Clara replied happily. “Eventually.”
“I knew you would,” Droslmeyer said. He plabsp;a hand upon Clara''s shoulder and turned babsp;to the grandfather clobsp;“Your mother was the cleverest ior I''ve ever known. But there was never any doubt when I asked her what her greatest iion was.”
“The Realms?” Clara asked.
Droslmeyer looked down at Clara and smiled. “You,” he said.
Clara swelled with pride. She tucked the key safely babsp;into her dress pocket, alongside the precious music box.
“And now,” Droslmeyer said, “I believe there is someone el waiting for you this evening.”
Clara followed his gaze to the edge of the room. Her father was standing there, alone, staring sadly at nothing in particular.
She walked over to him and took a deep breath.
“Father?” she asked.
Mr. Stahlbaum turned with a start. “Goodness, Clara, where have you e from? I have been looking all over for you.”
“I''m so sorry about the dance,” Clara apologized.
Her father patted her arm. “I uand. I wasn''t mubsp;in the mood for dang, either.”
“I worked it out,” Clara replied happily. “Eventually.”
“I knew you would,” Droslmeyer said. He plabsp;a hand upon Clara''s shoulder and turned babsp;to the grandfather clobsp;“Your mother was the cleverest ior I''ve ever known. But there was never any doubt when I asked her what her greatest iion was.”
“The Realms?” Clara asked.
Droslmeyer looked down at Clara and smiled. “You,” he said.
Clara swelled with pride. She tucked the key safely babsp;into her dress pocket, alongside the precious music box.
“And now,” Droslmeyer said, “I believe there is someone el waiting for you this evening.”
Clara followed his gaze to the edge of the room. Her father was standing there, alone, staring sadly at nothing in particular.