After a moment she came up behind him. It took everything she had not to well up with emotion. “Dad…”
He turned on the bench, and the moment he saw her, the face she had so missed returned. His expression slowly turned to a tight smile, and he stood, walking toward her, accelerating as he came. “My little girl…” Then he wrapped his arms around her in a crushing embrace, and she began to cry along with him.
“I’d thought I lost you.” He started to shudder with sobs, holding her even tighter.
She hugged him back. “No. I’m right here. I’m right here.”
“What happened to you? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. The State Department helped me get back, but I can’t stay.”
He leaned back to look at her, puzzled. “But why? And why didn’t they contact us? Why didn’t you call from… I don’t understand.”
“I’ll explain later.” McKinney pivoted to see Odin watching from near the car. He nodded to her.
“Hey!” McKinney pulled away to look her father in the eye. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
He held her chin, still smiling at her. “I can’t believe it’s really you. I can’t believe you’re here, safe.”
McKinney shouted and waved at Odin. “Get over here, you coward!”
Odin appeared to sigh impatiently, but he got out and approached them.
McKinney turned to her father. “Dad, this is the man who saved my life.”
Her father turned to face Odin and his extended hand, but her father’s expression changed, and he launched past it to hug Odin tightly. “My God, thank you. Thank you for bringing my girl back to us.”
McKinney could see the emotions coursing through Odin as her father gripped him.
Her father held tight, slapping Odin on the back. “Thank you.”
Odin nodded. “You’re welcome, Mr. McKinney.”
Her father pulled away to look Odin in the face. He extended his hand. “What’s your name, son?”
McKinney shook her head. “Dad, he can’t-”
Odin shook her father’s hand. “David Shaw, sir.”
McKinney gave him a stunned look.
“David. It’s an honor to meet you. I don’t know how I can ever thank you for bringing her back.”
“There’s no need, sir.”
“I have to hear all about it.” Her father motioned for them to start walking along the path, and he leaned toward Odin as he hooked his daughter’s elbow. “What on earth happened back in Africa? I hired investigators, and-”
“In a moment, Dad. I need you to do something for me first.”
“Anything, honey. Anything at all.” He was smiling.
“Can you loan me your phone for a second?”
“Oh, to call your brothers? Of course. My God, they’re going to be so, so happy…” He reached into his jacket pocket and passed her his phone.
McKinney took it, cocked her arm back, and threw it into the very center of the nearby pond, sending the ducks into flight.
Her father looked at her, and then to the pond, in utter confusion. “What on earth did you do that for?”
She looped her arms under her father’s and Odin’s elbows and started them along the path. “Let’s just call it a precaution.” McKinney grinned as her father still looked back, puzzled.
They passed under a tree branch on which two ravens perched. The birds fluffed up their feathers and let out a loud caw as they closely watched the humans below.