I thought my important business trip to Los Angeles would be just another ordinary day, until a strange request from the pilot made me think about everything I knew about my past.
The truth he revealed changed my future in ways I never imagined.
My flight to Los Angeles was supposed to be a peaceful one, but what happened during the two hour flight changed my life forever.
But before I tell you about it, let me explain why I had to get to Los Angeles that day.
I work as an architect for a well-known construction company, and it’s my dream job.
Believe me, it’s not just luck that I ended up here.
It’s the result of my hard work and the sleepless nights I spent in college improving my skills and learning new concepts.
Recently, my boss gave me the opportunity to present a major project to some of our biggest investors in Los Angeles.
This was VERY important because it could lead to a long-awaited promotion, and I gladly accepted the offer.
Honestly, I felt a huge sense of gratitude because it was also an opportunity to do my mum, Melissa, proud.
She’s my best friend, and that’s mostly because she raised me alone.
She always said that my dad died before I was born, but she never stopped me from following my dreams.
My mum was always there to support me and I love her for that.
When I told her about the LA meeting, she gave me a hug and said: “Come on, baby! I’ll be praying for you.”
The time at the airport flew by quickly and soon I found myself comfortably ensconced in my seat on board, ready for takeoff.
The flight attendants were very friendly, and I was lucky – there was no one next to me!
As the plane started to gain altitude, I couldn’t help but feel excited.
I was well prepared for my presentation and hoped that the investors would appreciate it.
After a few minutes, one of the flight attendants, a good-natured girl named Bethany, approached me with a tray of drinks.
‘Can I get you anything?’ – She asked with a smile.
‘Just orange juice, please,’ I replied, holding out my hand to accept the glass.
When I did, Bethany noticed a birthmark on my wrist.
‘Excuse me, can I see your passport?’ – She asked abruptly.
This is weird, I thought.
Confused, but not wanting to argue, I handed over my passport.
Bethany examined it carefully, then handed it back to me with a nod.
“Just a standard check. Thanks!”
That sounded fine.
After a while, Bethany approached my seat again.
‘Excuse me, will you be in a hurry after boarding?’ – She asked.
‘Yes, I have a connecting flight and I’m already running late,’ I explained, unconsciously clutching my hands together.
‘Well, the pilot wants to talk to you after you land,’ she said.
‘The pilot?’ – I asked. “Why? Can’t he talk to me now?”
‘Unfortunately, no,’ 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 listen.”
I sat there, completely baffled.
What the hell could the pilot possibly have to say to me?
And why did this have to be delayed until landing?
My important meeting was in jeopardy, and I didn’t want to risk missing the docking.
But Bethany’s insistence made me feel like it was something important.
When the plane landed and the other passengers began to leave the cabin, I pulled myself together and waited calmly for the pilot to approach.
When the cabin was finally empty, a tall man with grey hair entered, his eyes immediately met mine.
At that moment I literally dropped my bag and jacket.
My mouth fell open in surprise – I was sure I had seen this man before.
I instantly recognised him from the old photos my mum used to show me.
It was Steve, her childhood friend.
But the man didn’t look happy to see me.
In fact, tears streamed down his face as he hugged me tightly.
I stood there, completely confused as he sobbed on my shoulder.
‘What’s going on?’ – I asked in a shaky voice. ‘What’s wrong?’
He pulled away, looking at me with reddened eyes.
Then he gently took my hand and showed me the birthmark on his wrist.
It was exactly the same as the one on mine.
‘Courtney,’ he wheezed, ‘I’m your father.’
‘Wait, what?’ – I looked at him wide-eyed.
“My dad? But Mum said…”
Why did my mum lie to me? – I thought.
Why didn’t she ever say Steve was my father?
‘I don’t know what Melissa told you, Courtney, but here’s the truth,’ Steve continued.
‘She suddenly disappeared from my life when I was about to enter aviation school.’
‘She didn’t even tell me she was pregnant…I…I found out from a friend, but it was years after you were born.’
At that point, I just wanted to talk to my mum.
I wanted to know why she left Steve.
I wanted to understand why she kept everything from me.
I immediately pulled out my phone and called her.
‘Mum, why didn’t you ever tell me about Steve?’ – I demanded as soon as she answered.
I put the phone on speaker so Steve could hear.
‘Why did you keep it from me?’
“Steve? What are you talking about, babe?” – She asked, trying to hide the truth.
‘Mum, please stop!’ – I rolled my eyes.
“I just met Steve on the plane.
He’s here with me.
Now please tell me everything.
I need answers.
He needs answers!”
After a few seconds of silence, Mum finally spoke.
Her voice was full of emotion as she began to explain.
‘Oh, Courtney, I’m so sorry, I’m so guilty,’ 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…and…and I knew that if he found out, he’d give up his dream for 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, but now I realise how much it hurt us all.”
Steve’s face contorted as he listened.
‘Melissa,’ he whispered, “I…I loved you so much.
I would have done anything for you and our baby….
Why didn’t you trust me?”
“Steve? Oh, my God…” – Mum aghast.
“I…I thought I was protecting you.
I got scared.
I’m sorry, Steve.
I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
My head was spinning.
All these years my mum had lied to me about my father’s fate, and now here he was, a complete stranger pouring out his soul to both of us.
I couldn’t fathom it.
‘Mum, this…this is…this is too hard to take,’ I muttered.
‘I’m already late for an important investor meeting…I don’t know how to get to LA now.’
Steve’s eyes widened when I mentioned investors.
“You’re going to LA?
What’s the meeting about?”
I quickly gave Steve the details.
I explained that I had to present a major project to secure a promotion at work.
I saw his facial expression change as he learnt all about the company and the investors.
‘Well, then we can’t let you miss this meeting,’ he stated.
‘Because I know these investors well, Courtney.’
‘What, how?’ I asked.
‘I used to pilot their private jet a few years ago, and they’ve been very good to me,’ Steve told me, pulling out his phone.
‘Let me make some calls and I’ll set you up with a meeting with them today.’
As promised, he sprang into action, making a series of silent calls.
An hour later, I was already in a swanky conference room.
I couldn’t believe it.
The best part was that the meeting went better than I could have imagined.
The investors were impressed and agreed to fund my project.
In addition, I received a call from my boss and he offered me the promotion I was hoping for.
I was over the moon!
As I was leaving the auditorium, I saw Steve waiting for me with open arms.
‘You did it!’ – he exclaimed, hugging me tightly.
‘I’m proud of you, Courtney.’
I felt a lump in my throat as I hugged him back.
This man I had never known was now an integral part of my life, and somehow it felt right.
All those years of feeling like something was missing had brought me to this moment, and I couldn’t help but wonder what else the future held.
The following week, Steve came to our house to meet my mum.
It was an emotional meeting, full of tears, laughter and a sense of wholeness that we had all been searching for for so long.
That day I realised what it meant to have a complete family.
As I lay in bed that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about the amazing turn of events.
Who would have thought that a routine flight to Los Angeles would lead me to discovering my long-lost father?
It was a twist usually only found in films.
But here I am, living it.
Although it was overwhelming, I couldn’t help but feel grateful and excited for what the future had to offer me.
