Chapter 45 Absolutely Magical
Claire
Christmas Day
The live orchestra plays the final notes of Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers,” and the Dewdrop Fairy and the corps dancers take their final bows on stage as the crowd erupts in applause.
Adrenaline courses through me as my partner takes my hand in his, and I ready myself for my final dance of the night.
The crowd quiets, and I close my eyes, inhaling deeply and calming my nerves.
I can do this.
My eyes open as the beginning notes of Tchaikovsky’s “Grand Pas De Deux” begin to play, and he leads me on stage.
The slow tempo of the music is beautiful, and I move, on pointe, with each soft rise and fall, doing my best to settle my racing heart and control my breathing as I hold each pose and extension perfectly.
The audience claps softly with each impressive movement, and pride swells in my chest that I’m not only living out my dream, but I’m doing it well.
The bright stage lights warm my body, and with every twirl and dip, I grow more confident in my ability to perform the dance I’ve worked my whole career for.
The music shifts, and with the rising crescendo, I float across the stage, leaping into my partner’s arms. He brings me to his shoulder, and I maintain my composure, breathing out a sigh of relief that the first of many lifts is done.
He slowly spins us around, and despite the bright lights, my eyes land on Everett in the front row of the audience. His eyes are locked on me, and pure amazement covers his entire face.
We finish the first part of the dance, each taking our bows as the crowd erupts. He guides me off stage, and the minute I’m out of view, I start inhaling deeply, trying to catch my breath, knowing I don’t have long until I’m required to be back in the spotlight.
From off-stage, I watch as the music begins again, and my partner shows off a series of leaps, wowing the crowd.
On my cue, I replace him. It’s only twenty seconds, but the series of turns and leaps make my head spin, and I do my best to push through the feeling, holding my form until it’s time to disappear off stage once more.
He returns, and I work to calm my equilibrium as I prepare myself for our grand finale.
Rejoining him, I perform spins and leaps that are perfectly timed to the music. Moving away from him, we take each side of the stage, and I spin toward him as the music builds before ending at the same time he dips me.
The audience erupts, and we stand, taking a bow and then moving off the stage to make room for the encore.
The orchestra strikes up the final song, and one by one, each group of dancers performs their final dance—Chocolate, Coffee, Tea, Candy Canes, Marzipan, Mother Ginger and her polichinelles, and the Dewdrop and her flowers—and then pose around the perimeter.
As I watch each perform, I’m reminded of the friends I was lucky enough to get the chance to know even if it was just for a little while.
On our cue, my partner and I return to the stage and complete a series of lifts at center stage before joining our fellow dancers in the last dance of the night.
Adrenaline pours through me as I near the end. Making my way to the front, I perform my final pirouette and hit my final pose.
The music shifts and the lights dim as Clara and the Nutcracker Prince make their way off stage. My chest rises and falls as I do my best to control my breathing and maintain the perfect pose until the curtain is completely closed and the ballet is officially over.
Walking out from backstage, I’m met by my parents and Andi. All three of them wrap me in a hug before stepping back, revealing Everett behind them.
A large bouquet of anemones is in his hand, and his body crashes into mine as we wrap each other in an embrace.
“You were stunning, Sugar,” he says, pulling back but not letting me go. He bends down, his lips finding mine, and from behind us, I hear my sister let out a dramatic “Awwwww.”
“Could you not ruin our moment?” I quip, looking over to where she stands.
“What kind of little sister would I be if I didn’t?” she retorts, smirking.
“How are you feeling?” Everett asks.
“Tired, but really proud of myself,” I say, letting him go and taking the bouquet of flowers.
“You should be, Claire Bear,” my dad boasts.
I offer them a smile. “Thank you all for coming. It means the world.”
“We wouldn’t have missed it,” Andi says.
“No place I’d rather be,” Everett adds.
He pulls me against him again, kissing the top of my head.
“What do you say we get out of here and go have some Christmas dinner?” my mom says.
“Yes, carbs sound like exactly what I need.”
We walk outside with my family. My feet and body ache in ways I didn’t know they could. Exhaustion covers my every move as I pull my coat tight around me.
“We’ll see you at your apartment?” my dad asks as a cab pulls up next to the sidewalk.
“Yep, we will be right behind you,” I reply.
We watch as they climb in, and then Everett lifts his arm, hailing one for us. The yellow car whips in and out of the passing traffic, coming to a sudden halt next to the curb. Everett opens the door, and I slide in. He follows me, and I give the driver my address.
Leaning against him, I try to relax on the short drive, already dreaming about the warm bath I’m going to take once the Christmas celebrations are over.
“Having a good Christmas?” the cab driver asks when we’re a few blocks away from my building.
“Maybe the best ever,” I say, nestling against Everett. “You?”
She pulls the cab to the curb and flips around. Everett’s breath catches next to me, as we both spot her pink strands poking out from beneath her winter hat.
“It’s been absolutely magical,” she beams, winking one of her violet eyes in our direction. “Merry Christmas, you two.”
“Merry Christmas,” I say, and both Everett and I move from the car, hand-in-hand. We join my family, who’s waiting at the bottom of my steps, and my whole body warms at the thought that the people I love the most are all together on my favorite day of the year—absolutely magical indeed.