“Madelyn, you have brought out the best in me,” he said, and he choked a bit on those words, clearing his throat as I willed my own emotions to stay checked. “I didn’t have an example of a father growing up — not one I would ever want to emulate, anyway. But over the past year, through being a father, I have learned more about love, kindness, compassion and understanding than ever before. And because of that, I know you really are an angel on earth. Because no one is as kind, compassionate, and understanding as you are.
