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I notice she’s very carefully averting her gaze, and that’s when it dawns on me.

My da is completely naked.

I shrug out of my jacket, holding it out to him as he blusters a bit, wrapping it around his waist.

“Thought I felt a chill,” he chuckles.

I shiver in the cold air without my jacket, realizing that my usual overly warm body temperature is no more—another sign of the curse finally being over.

“Not exactly how I pictured you two meeting for the first time,” I say back, laughing softly.

“This wee thing broke our curse?” My da sounds awestruck, brushing past me to drink in the sight of her. “You must be something special, lass.”

“I don’t know about that—”

“She is,” I interrupt her. “She’s very special.”

My da beams. “What’s your name, hen?”

“My name is…” She flicks her gaze to mine, and I nod in encouragement. “My name is Keyanna,” she tells him. “Keyanna MacKay.”

He rears back a bit, his head swiveling so that he can lock eyes with me as confusion floods his features. “MacKay?”

“Aye,” I tell him. “The very same.”

“A daughter of MacKay,” my da whispers. He turns back to Key. “Then that would make you…”

“Duncan’s daughter,” she finishes.

My da’s eyes move over her face, no doubt seeing the truth of it, his throat bobbing with a swallow as he nods heavily. “Aye, you have the look of him.”

“I’m very sorry,” she tells him. “For everything you went through.”

“He left for you,” my da says, still looking a bit dazed. “Didn’t he?”

Key stiffens a bit, but nods back at him. “Yes, I think so.”

“Och.” Da’s voice sounds thick as he nods again, sniffling a bit. “S’pose that would do it.”

“I don’t think he ever wanted to abandon you,” she says quietly. “If it weren’t for me—”

“No,” I cut in. “None of that. I won’t have you shouldering any blame.”

My da looks between the two of us curiously, giving his attention back to Key. “I’d have done the same, lass. We parents…we would do anything for our children, aye?” He pats her shoulder. “And your da? Is he here with you?”

Key averts her gaze. “He passed away back in the spring.”

“I see,” my da answers, his arm circling around her shoulder as he gives it an encouraging squeeze. “He was…a good man. It seems he raised a fine daughter.” He nods, sniffling again. “I thank you, lass. For everything.”

“I was happy to help,” she says.

“And your mum…?” my da asks me. “Is she…?”

“She’s alive,” I tell him. “But she’s…moved away. She didn’t take it well when you left.”

His face crumples, but he nods through it. “Aye. I suppose that’ll be another wrong to right.” He glances down at my jacket haphazardly wrapped around his waist. “Perhaps after I find some clothes.”

Keyanna laughs beside me, and I beam down at her, feeling so full in this moment.