An elderly woman asked me to marry her as her final wish — and after she passed away, her lawyer handed me her hospital bag and said, “She chose you for a reason.”

Mr. Charleston’s office was quiet when I unfolded Gloria’s letter again. This time, Marcus sat across from me, arms crossed, waiting to pounce. The lawyer had arranged the meeting after I had read what Gloria had to say.

I began to read her words aloud.

“My dearest Daniel. When I was 17, I gave up a baby boy. I spent 50 years writing him letters I could continue reading …