“Can I help you?” said Dad, barely cracking the door.

The voice behind the door literally made me fall to the floor. “Mr. Sullivan, my name is Michael Toomey, and I am here to apologize. I will not ask to speak to your daughter, nor do I have any right to, but I hope you will do me the kindness of allowing me to speak to you in private. I need some advice, sir.”

To my utter shock, my dad opened the door the rest of the way. He stood there for a few moments looking Michael up and down and then finally said, “By all means, come in.”

Dad conducted Michael into his study and...

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