“Mind if I join you?” he asked, smiling.
I stared, speechless.
“I’m David,” he said, “Kathy’s father.”
It had all been a test—to see how I treated a stranger when no one was watching. And I’d passed.
“Now,” he said, handing me a notebook and pen, “write Kathy a letter about why you love her and how you’ll take care of her.”
Though overwhelmed, I poured my heart into the letter. When I finished, David read it, nodded, and smiled. “Welcome to the family.”
When we landed, Kathy greeted us with a knowing grin. “My dad likes to test people,” she said, laughing.
Later, I learned David donated the $100 to the café staff. “Kindness should always pay forward,” Kathy explained.
That moment cemented my belief: I wasn’t just marrying Kathy. I was joining a family that valued integrity, compassion, and love. And I couldn’t be more grateful.