Jimmy is stunned when the homeless man he bought coffee from earlier boards the plane and sits next to him in first class. Who was he and why was he asking for money?
I never really thought about destiny until I met Kathy.
Three months ago, she came into my life, and in a matter of weeks, she became my world. People called me crazy for proposing to her after only a month, but I couldn’t ignore the way everything was falling into place with her.
A woman sitting in her living room | Source: Midjourney
We shared the same outlook on life, a love of skiing, and even a mutual obsession with science fiction novels. I felt like the universe was pulling me toward her.
Now here I am, flying to meet his parents for the first time.
Kathy had warned me about her father, David. She called him a strict man who didn’t give his approval easily. But she also insisted that he had a good heart and loved her more than anything.
A woman sitting with her phone in her hand | Source: Midjourney
To be honest, I was scared. I knew I only had one chance to prove myself worthy of his daughter, and I didn’t want to mess it up.
I had arrived at the airport too early, anxiety pushing me to leave the house long before I had to. To kill time, I took refuge in a cozy little cafe across the street.
The buzz of people and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee were distracting.
That’s when I noticed it.
A man sitting in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
A man shuffled in. His face was wrinkled and showed that he had worked hard all his life. His shoulders were slightly hunched and his eyes, although tired, were roaming the room as if he were searching for something.
I saw him approach some tables and speak quietly to the people sitting there.
People in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
Most people shook their heads, avoided eye contact, or apologized awkwardly. Then he stopped in front of my table.
“Excuse me,” he said politely. “Could you lend me some change? Just enough for a coffee.”
I hesitated. My first instinct was to refuse. Not because I didn’t care, but because I wasn’t sure I could trust him. After all, some people are just out to take advantage of you.
But something about him seemed different. He wasn’t pushy, and he seemed embarrassed to ask.
A close-up of an older man | Source: Midjourney
“What coffee do you want?” I asked.
“Jamaican Blue Mountain,” he said, almost sheepishly. “I heard it’s really good.”
I almost laughed. It was the most expensive option on the menu. For a moment, I thought he was joking. But the way he looked at me told me he wasn’t.
“Why that one?” I asked.
“It’s my birthday,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to try it. I thought… why not today?”
Part of me wanted to roll my eyes.
Of course it’s your birthday, I thought.
But another part of me decided to believe him.
A man lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney
“Okay,” I said, standing up. “Let’s get you that coffee.”
His face lit up. “Thank you,” he said.
But I didn’t just buy him coffee. I added a piece of cake to the order because, honestly, what’s a birthday without cake? As I handed him the tray, I gestured to the empty chair at my table.
“Come,” I said. “Tell me your story.”
For a second he hesitated.
A coffee cup on a table | Source: Pexels
But then he sat down, clutching the coffee cup. And he started talking.
His name was David, and he had lost everything years ago, his family, his job, and even his home. Betrayal and bad luck had led to his misfortune.
He spoke with such sincerity.
As I sat there, I realized that this wasn’t just a man looking for help. This was someone who had been broken by life but hadn’t given up.
Close-up of an elderly man’s eye | Source: Pexels
When he finished his story, I had a lump in my throat. I slipped him $100 before leaving, but he tried to refuse it.
“Take this as a gift from me,” I said. “And happy birthday!”
I walked out of the cafe thinking I had done a good deed. I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. Or that he’d turn my whole world upside down a few hours later.
A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
The airport was buzzing with its usual chaos as I sat in the first class waiting area, sipping another cup of coffee.
My nervousness about meeting Kathy’s parents had faded somewhat, but the thought of pleasing her father loomed large in my mind. What if he didn’t like me? What if he thought I wasn’t good enough for her?
I picked up my phone to send a message to Kathy, who had already arrived at her parents’ house.
I ‘m super nervous, I wrote. How’s it going over there?
Everything is going very well, she replied. I’m sure Daddy will love you.
When the call for boarding came, I joined the queue and found my seat by the window.
The view from the window of an airplane | Source: Pexels
First class seemed like a luxury I didn’t deserve, but Kathy insisted that I treat myself for once. As I settled in and looked around, I couldn’t help but think of the man in the café. His story had stuck with me.
I hoped the $100 I gave him would make his birthday a little happier.
As I was about to settle in, a figure stepped forward down the aisle. My heart nearly stopped when I saw his face.
A man sitting on a plane | Source: Midjourney
It was him. The same man from the cafe.
But he wasn’t wearing the tattered clothes from earlier.
No, this man was wearing a well-tailored suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he had a shiny watch on his wrist.
He caught my attention and smiled at me.
“Do you mind if I join you?” he asks casually.
I was confused. “What… what’s going on?”
He leaned back, a smirk on his face. “It was… a test.”
An elderly man on a plane | Source: Midjourney
“A test?” I repeated. “What?”
“Let me introduce myself properly. My name is David,” he paused, observing my reaction. “Kathy’s father.”
“Wait… you’re his father?” I asked. “The one I’m supposed to meet right here?”
“Exactly,” he said, still smiling. “I always believed in a practical approach. I wanted to see who my daughter’s fiancé really was.”
Close-up of an elderly man’s face | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t believe it. Why didn’t Kathy tell me? Was she part of this plan?
“So, was this all an act?” I asked.
“A necessary act,” he replied. “It’s easy to be kind when everyone is watching. But I wanted to know how you behave around a stranger, especially one who seemed to have nothing to offer. It turns out you nailed the first part.”
“The first part?” I repeated. “How many parts are there?”
He opened the notebook and handed me a pen. “Just one more. Write a letter to Kathy.”
“A letter?”
A young man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
“Yes,” he said, leaning back. “Tell her why you love her, why you want to marry her, and how you plan to take care of her. Don’t overthink it. Be honest.”
I stared at the blank page as beads of sweat formed on my temples. This wasn’t what I signed up for. But as much as I wanted to protest, I knew I couldn’t.
So I started writing.
At first the words came slowly. But soon the pen seemed to move on its own.
A man writing a letter | Source: Pexels
I wrote about how Kathy made me feel complete, how her laughter could brighten my darkest days, and how I wanted to build a life with her filled with confidence and joy.
When I finished, my hand hurt, but my heart felt lighter.
However, I still wasn’t sure I would pass the test. What if it was a trick question? What if David’s test wasn’t as easy as it looked?
A close-up of a man sitting by the window seat | Source: Midjourney
After I handed him the letter, he looked at it for a moment. Then he looked up and smiled.
“You made it,” he said. “Welcome to the family.”
I felt so relieved after hearing those words.
This man, who had just tested me, held out his hand. I shook it firmly, knowing that I had passed the last hurdle.
“Now let’s see how well you do at home,” he said.
Older man in black suit | Source: Midjourney
When we finally landed and disembarked, I was physically and mentally exhausted. As we walked through the terminal, I tried to calm myself down, hoping I had done enough to impress him, but my nerves were still on edge.
The drive to Kathy’s parents’ house was quiet. She and her mother were waiting for us there.
Meanwhile, my mind raced with thoughts of what the evening would bring. I wasn’t just meeting his parents anymore. I had passed the “test.” But what did that mean? Would David’s approval be enough? What would happen at their house?
Cars on a road | Source: Pexels
When we arrived, Kathy’s mother Susan greeted us warmly. Kathy’s brothers and sister were also there.
David, however, kept his usual serious demeanor and looked at me across the table. I couldn’t tell if he was still evaluating me or reserving judgment.
The dinner passed in an uncomfortable atmosphere, everyone making polite conversation while David stood back, watching closely.
Every time I spoke, he nodded or grunted, never offering much in return. Kathy’s siblings were easygoing, but David’s silence was almost deafening.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I had really succeeded.
A man sitting down for dinner in his home | Source: Midjourney
As the meal drew to a close, David put down his glass of wine and cleared his throat.
“You did great, Jimmy,” he said. “You showed me who you really are. And that’s saying something.”
Kathy squeezed my hand under the table.
“I always knew you were the one for me,” she whispered.
“I’ve seen enough to know he’ll take good care of you,” he said, smiling at his daughter. “You have my blessing.”
A man smiling at his daughter | Source: Midjourney
I was super happy at that moment, but there was something unspoken in the way David looked at me.
After dinner, as Kathy and I helped her parents clean up, I thought everything was back to normal.
That’s when I came across a folded piece of paper on the counter.
As I unfolded it, I realized it was a receipt from the coffee shop I had been to earlier that morning. The one where I had met David.
A young man looks at a receipt | Source: Midjourney
But the receipt didn’t match the coffee I bought for David. There was a surcharge at the bottom of the bill.
“Additional Donation – $100”
I picked it up and turned to Kathy.
“What is it?” I asked him.
“Oh, that’s how my father takes care of the last details.”
I frowned, confused. “What?”
She leaned against the counter. “You gave him $100 at the coffee shop, remember? He didn’t keep it. He handed it to the coffee shop staff and told them to count it as an extra donation after you left.”
“And… how do you know that? Did you know about his plan from the beginning? Were you part of it?”
A man talking to his fiancée | Source: Midjourney
She gave me a smirk.
“Well, I was one of them,” she said. “How do you think Dad knew about your robbery? Of course it was me, Jimmy.”
At that moment, I realized that I wasn’t going to be part of an ordinary family. These people were very special, and they wanted me to realize the importance of generosity. And what it meant to be part of this family.
Read also: My husband brought his mistress home to kick me out – Little did he know he would be homeless an hour later
This work is inspired by real events and persons, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to real events is purely coincidental and is not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims as to the accuracy of events or portrayal of characters and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and all opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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