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Another peal of laughter, followed by a repeated round of clapping. “Sorcha!”

I watch Key’s eyes soften, watch as she meets mine with a grin full of emotion as she no doubt marvels over the same things I find myself marveling over. That we have this, even against all odds. That we’rehere.

“That’s right,” Key says quietly. “Sweet Sorcha.”

“Oi! Anyone home?”

“That’ll be your grandpa,” I tell Sorcha at the sound of Finlay’s entry.

Sorcha immediately starts wiggling to be put down, toddling away on her tiny feet to meet Finlay in the doorway. “Granpa!”

“Och, would you look at that,” Finn practically chokes, crouching to sweep the little girl into his arms. “Have you gotten bigger, lass? You’re practically grown!”

“Itwo, Granpa,” Sorcha says in an almost scolding tone.

“Not too auld to betickled, then, aye?”

His fingers dig into the adorable little rolls of her side, and Sorcha starts to wiggle and squeal in his hold, her screams of laughter echoing in the empty room as she turns this way and that to escape Finlay’s grasp. I open my mouth to warn him, but then Sorcha positivelyshriekswith her giggling, and with a softpop—we’re standing in a much darker room.

Finlay goes still, holding Sorcha out with a surprised expression. “Well, that’s new.”

“Yeah,” Key says with an amused expression. “At least she didn’t bust it. You should see what happens when shecries.”

Finlay’s eyes swim, his voice thicker when he says, “Och, she’ll be grown before we know it.”

Rhona appears then, squeezing in next to her husband, frowning. “Don’t be rushing her life away, Finlay. Let the lass be a wean for a while yet.” Her usually stoic face crumples into an expression of utter delight when Sorcha reaches for her, plucking her from her husband and pressing a rain of kisses to her full cheeks as the little girl squeals. “My sweet girl,” Rhona says sweetly. “Look at how special you are! I’ve missed you.”

“You saw her yesterday,” I point out.

Rhona clucks her tongue, not even bothering to look at me. “Haud yer wheesht.”

Key flicks her eyes up to the light fixture, staring at it for a moment before it blinks back to life.

“Adain!” Sorcha begs delightedly. “Mummy, adain!”

Key grins impishly as she winks at Sorcha, the light flickering back out just to come right back on when she sticks out her tongue.

“All right, all right,” Rhona huffs. “Enough showing off. Some of us have to lift our auld bones out of chairs when we want to turn the lights on and off.”

“It’s truly a struggle,” I sigh, earning myself a pinch in the side from my wife.

“Hello! Is someone going to help me bring in this bloody thing? It’s fucking huge!”

Key rolls her eyes, already bounding off to no doubt scold Rory for not heeding her “no cursing around Sorcha” rule.

“The house is coming along,” Finlay notes. “Almost done, then?”

“Aye,” I tell him. “My da and I just finished the window for Sorcha’s room yesterday.”

Finlay chuckles. “I’d say you’ll be happy to get this wee thing out of your bed, but something tells me you’ll miss her.”

“We might need to ease her into sleeping in her own bed,” I answer. “So she isn’t overwhelmed.”

“Oh, aye,” Rhona laughs. “Purely for her sake.”

Finlay looks up from tickling Sorcha in the side. “How is your da?”

“He’s all right,” I tell him. “He and Mum should be here soon.”