Jimmy is stunned when the homeless man he bought a coffee for 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 within a few 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, the same 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 easily give his approval. 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 driving 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, though tired, roamed the room as if searching for something.
I saw him approach some tables and speak softly 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 would you like?” I asked.
“Jamaican Blue Mountain,” he said, almost sheepishly. “I heard it’s really good.”
I almost laughed. It was the most expensive item 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 him.
“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 it.
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 her coffee. I added a slice of cake to the order because, honestly, what’s a birthday without cake? When I handed her the tray, I gestured toward the empty chair at my table.
“Come on,” 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 began to speak.
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 unhappiness.
He spoke with such sincerity.
As I sat there, I realized 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 told him. “And happy birthday!”
I left the cafe thinking I’d 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 buzzed with its usual chaos as I sat in the first-class lounge, sipping another cup of coffee.
My nervousness about meeting Kathy’s parents had subsided 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 are things going over there?
Everything’s going very well, she replied. I’m sure Daddy will love you.
When the boarding call came, I joined the queue and found my window seat.
The view from an airplane window | Source: Pexels
First class seemed like a luxury I didn’t deserve, but Kathy insisted I treat myself for once. As I settled in and looked around, I couldn’t help but think of the man from the cafe. His story had stayed 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 almost stopped when I saw his face.
A man sitting on an airplane | 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… are you his father?” I asked. “The one I’m supposed to meet right here?”
“Exactly,” he said, still smiling. “I’ve 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 all that 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 handle 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. “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’d 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 filled with confidence and joy with her.
When I finished, my hand hurt, but my heart felt lighter.
However, I still wasn’t sure I’d pass the test. What if it was a trick question? What if David’s test wasn’t as simple 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 did it,” he said. “Welcome to the family.”
I felt so relieved after hearing those words.
This man, who had just tested me, extended his hand. I shook it firmly, knowing I had cleared the final hurdle.
“Now let’s see how well you’re doing at home,” he said.
An older man in a 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’d done enough to impress him, but my nerves were still on edge.
The drive to Kathy’s parents’ house was peaceful. She and her mother were waiting for us.
Meanwhile, my mind raced with thoughts of what the evening would hold. 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, gave us a warm welcome. Kathy’s brothers and sister were also there.
David, however, remained serious and looked at me across the table. I couldn’t tell if he was still evaluating me or reserving judgment.
The dinner proceeded in an uncomfortable atmosphere, with everyone making polite conversation while David remained in the background, watching closely.
Whenever 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 wine glass and cleared his throat.
“You did well, 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 about 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.
Unfolding it, I realized it was a receipt from the cafe I’d been to earlier that morning. The one where I’d 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 an extra charge 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 dad ties up loose ends.”
I frowned, confused. “What?”
She leaned against the counter. “You gave him $100 at the coffee shop, remember? He didn’t keep it. He gave 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? Were you aware of 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 found out about your robbery? Of course, it was me, Jimmy.”
At that moment, I realized I wasn’t going to join any ordinary family. These people were very special, and they wanted me to understand the importance of generosity. And what it meant to be part of that family.
Read also: My husband brought his mistress home to kick me out – He had no idea he’d be homeless an hour later
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the story. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims regarding the accuracy of events or character portrayals 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 opinions of the author or publisher.
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