I had assumed that my major business trip to Los Angeles would be just another day, but the pilot’s enigmatic request caused me to doubt all of my prior knowledge. I never would have anticipated how the information he revealed would change my future.
Though my two-hour flight to Los Angeles was supposed to be uneventful, what transpired during that trip permanently altered my course in life. Let me explain why I had to travel to Los Angeles that day before I tell you about it.
I now have my ideal job as an architect at a reputable construction company. Let me tell you, my arrival here was not due to serendipity. It was my diligence and the many late nights I spent in college honing my abilities and picking up new ideas.
My employer just gave me the chance to show a significant project to a few of our most influential investors in Los Angeles.
hugeI gladly accepted the invitation because it was a huge thing that might lead to a long-awaited promotion.
To be honest, I was really appreciative of the opportunity to make my mother, Melissa, proud. She has raised me as a single parent, which is mostly why she is my best friend. She informed me that my father had died before I was even born, but she never discouraged me from following my aspirations. My mother has always provided me with support, and I am grateful for that.
So, when I told her about the meeting in LA, she hugged me and said, “Go get ’em, sweetie! I’ll be praying for you.”
At the airport, the time passed quickly, and before I knew it, I was settled into my seat and the plane was ready to take off. I was fortunate enough to have an empty seat next to me, and the flight attendants were all really friendly!
I couldn’t help but feel excited as the plane started to ascend. I was expecting the investors would find my presentation interesting, so I prepared it properly.
A few minutes into the flight, a pleasant-looking flight attendant named Bethany brought me a tray of drinks.
She inquired, smiling, “Can I get you something to sip on?”
“Just orange juice, please,” I replied, raising my hand to accept the glass. As I did, Bethany glanced down at the birthmark on my wrist.
She abruptly said, “I’m sorry, Could I have your passport, please?”
That’s odd, I thought to myself.
I handed it over, confused but not willing to fight. Bethany nodded and took a close look at it before giving it back.
“Just a standard protocol check. Thank you!”
Sounds awesome.
After a little while, Bethany came back to my seat.
“Excuse me, will you be in a rush after we land?” she inquired.
“Yeah, I’ve got a connecting flight to catch, and I’m already running late,” I explained as I subconsciously clasped my hands together.
“Well, the pilot wants to speak with you after we land.”
“The pilot?” I asked. “Why? Can’t he just talk to me now?”
“I’m afraid not,” Bethany replied in a serious tone. “He wants to talk to you in person. I know you’re in a hurry, but trust me, you’ll want to hear this. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”
I sat there, very bewildered.
How could the pilot possibly need to tell me anything? Furthermore, why did it need to wait until after our landing? I didn’t want to miss my connection because I had an important meeting coming up. However, Bethany’s persistence gave me the impression that this was a significant matter.
I steeled myself and waited for the captain to approach as the plane touched down and the other passengers started to disembark.
The tall man with graying hair entered the cabin when it was finally empty and locked eyes with me.
I literally dropped my jacket and bag at that point. I swear I had seen this man before, so much so that my mouth dropped open.
I recognized him right away from old pictures my mother had shown me. This was her childhood pal, Steve.
The man didn’t appear pleased to see me, though.
He flung his arms around me and gave me a tight embrace, tears running down his cheeks. He sobbed into my shoulder as I stood there, dumbfounded.
“What’s going on?” I questioned with trembling. “What happened?”
With his eyes ringing with red, he withdrew and stared at me. He then took my hand gently and showed me a birthmark on his wrist. The one on mine matched it exactly.
“Courtney,” he choked out, “I’m your father.”
“Wait, what?” I looked at him with eyes wide open. “My father? But Mom said…”
Mom lied to me, but why? I pondered. How could she never have told me that Steve was my dad?
“I don’t know what Melissa told you, Courtney, but this is the truth,” Steve continued. “She suddenly disappeared from my life when I was about to attend aviation school.”
“She didn’t even tell me she was pregnant… I… I got to know through a friend but it was years after you were born.”
I just wanted to confront Mom at that time. I was curious as to why she had broken up with Steve. She concealed everything from me, and I wanted to know why.
I took out my phone right away and gave her a call.
“Mom, why didn’t you ever tell me about Steve?” As soon as she responded, I made a demand. Steve could hear her since I put her on speakerphone. “Why did you keep this from me?”
“Steve? Sweetie, what do you mean?” Still attempting to keep the truth from me, she asked.
“Mom, please stop!” I rolled my eyes. “Steve and I recently met on the airline. Here he is, beside me. Tell me everything now, please. I require responses. He needs clarifications!”
There was stillness for a few seconds, and then Mom spoke. She was talking with a lot of emotion in her voice.
“Oh, Courtney, I’m so sorry,” she cried. “When we were young, Steve wanted to go to aviation school and become a pilot. But then I got pregnant with you, and I knew that if he found out, he would give up his dreams to be with us.”
“I couldn’t let him do that,” she continued after a pause. “So, I left without telling him. I thought it was the right thing to do at the time, but I can see now how much it’s hurt all of us.”
Steve listened, his face creased.
“Melissa,” he choked out, “I… I loved you so much. I would have done anything for you and our child. Why didn’t you trust me?”
“Steve? Oh my…” Mom gasped. “I… I thought I was protecting you. I was scared. I’m sorry, Steve. I’m so, so sorry.”
My head seemed to be whirling. My father was a stranger who was sharing his heart with me, after my mother had lied to me for years about his fate. I was unable to take it all in.
“Mom, this is… this is a lot to take in,” I stammered. “I’m already late for the big meeting with the investors… I don’t know how I’ll get to LA now.”
When I described the investors, Steve’s eyes got bigger.
“Are you heading to LA? Why is this meeting being held?”
Steve and I rapidly went over the specifics. I told him about the significant project I had to deliver in order to get a big promotion at work.
As I told him everything about the business and the investors, I saw a change in his expression.
“Well then, we can’t let you miss that meeting,” he said, “because I know those investors very well, Courtney.”
“What? How?” I enquired.
Steve slid out his phone and said, “I used to fly their private jet a few years ago, and they were very kind to me.” “Let me make a few calls, and I’ll get you in front of them today.”
As promised, he got right to work, picking up many quiet phone calls. I was shown into a chic conference room in less than an hour. It was unbelievable to me.
The meeting went better than I had anticipated, which was the nicest part. After being impressed, the investors decided to support my enterprise proposal. Aside from that, my supervisor called and made me an offer for the promotion I had been dreaming of. I was ecstatic!
Steve was waiting for me with wide arms as I left the room.
“You did it!” he exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. “I’m so proud of you, Courtney.”
A knot formed in my throat as I gave him a hug in return.
I had never met this man before, yet now he was a big part of my life, and it felt natural. I was here now because, after all those years, I felt like something was missing, and I couldn’t help but wonder what else the future held.
Steve came over to our place the following week to meet Mom.
Tears, laughter and a sense of wholeness that had been absent for so long were shared at the emotional reunion. I realized that day what it was like to have a whole family.
The amazing turn of events consumed my thoughts as I was lying in bed that night. Who would have guessed that my father, who had been missing for a long time, would turn up on a regular flight to Los Angeles? It was the kind of unexpected story turn that comes only in movies. But I was living it right here.
Even though it was overwhelming, I couldn’t help but be grateful and excited about what the future may bring.
