Jimmy was stunned when the homeless man hed bought coffee for earlier boarded the plane and sat beside him in first class. Who was he and why was he asking for money in the first place?
Id never thought much about destiny until I met Kathy.
Three months ago, she walked into my life, and within weeks, she became my world. People called me crazy for proposing after just a month, but I couldnt ignore the way everything fell into place with her.
A woman sitting in her living room | Source: Midjourney
We shared the same outlook on life, the same love for skiing, and even a mutual obsession with science fiction novels. It felt like the universe was nudging me, whispering, shes the one.
Now, here I was, flying out to meet her parents for the first time.
Kathy warned me about her dad, David. She called him a stern man who didnt give his approval easily. But she also insisted 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 just had one shot to prove I was worthy of his daughter, and I didnt want to mess it up.
Id arrived at the airport too early, nerves pushing me to leave home long before I needed to. To kill time, I ducked into a cozy little coffee shop across the street.
The hum of conversations and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee were a welcome distraction from the thoughts swirling in my head.
Thats when I noticed him.
A man sitting in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney
The man shuffled in, wearing tattered clothes. His face had wrinkles that showed he had worked hard all his life. His shoulders were slightly hunched, and his eyes, though tired, darted around the room like he was searching for something.
I watched as he approached a few tables, speaking softly to the people seated there.
People in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney
Most people shook their heads, avoided eye contact, or offered an awkward apology. Then, he stopped in front of my table.
“Excuse me,” he said politely. “Could you spare some change? Just enough for a coffee.”
I hesitated. My first instinct was to decline. Not because I didnt care, but because I wasnt sure how much to trust him. You know, some people are genuine while others are just looking for handouts.
But something about him felt different. He wasnt pushy, and he looked embarrassed to be asking.
A close-up shot of an older man | Source: Midjourney
“What kind of coffee do you want?” I asked.
“Jamaican Blue Mountain,” he said, almost sheepishly. “Ive heard its really good.”
I almost laughed. It was the priciest option on the menu. For a moment, I thought he might be joking. But the way he looked at me made me stop.
“Why that one?” I asked.
“Its my birthday,” he smiled. “Always wanted to try it. Figured… why not today?”
A part of me wanted to roll my eyes.
Sure, its your birthday, I thought.
But another part of me decided to believe him.
A man lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney
“Alright,” I said, standing up. “Lets get you that coffee.”
His face lit up with a genuine smile. “Thank you,” he said.
I didnt just buy him the coffee, though. I added a slice of cake to the order because, honestly, whats a birthday without cake? When I handed him the tray, I gestured to the empty chair at my table.
“Sit,” I said. “Tell me your story.”
For a second, he hesitated, like he wasnt sure if I meant it.
A coffee mug on a table | Source: Pexels
But then he sat down, cradling the coffee cup like it was something sacred. And he started to talk.
His name was David, and hed lost everything years ago, including his family, his job, and even his home. Betrayal and bad luck had played their parts, but he didnt make excuses.
He spoke plainly, with a kind of raw honesty that made it impossible not to listen.
As I sat there, I realized this wasnt just a man looking for a handout. This was someone whod been broken by life but hadnt given up.
A close-up shot of an older mans eye | Source: Pexels
By the time he finished his story, I felt a lump in my throat I couldnt quite swallow. I slipped him $100 before leaving, but he tried to refuse it.
“Consider this a gift from my side, man,” I told him. “And happy birthday!”
I walked out of that café thinking Id done a small, good thing for a stranger. Id never imagined Id see him again. Or that hed turn my entire world upside down just 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 nerves about meeting Kathys parents had calmed somewhat, but the thought of her father loomed large in my mind. What if he didnt like me? What if he thought I wasnt good enough for her?
I picked up my phone to text Kathy, who had already reached her parents place.
Im super nervous, I wrote. Hows it going there?
Everythings great, she texted back. Im sure Dads going to love you.
When the boarding call came, I joined the line and found my seat near the window.
The view from an airplanes window | Source: Pexels
First class felt like a luxury I didnt deserve, but Kathy insisted I spoil myself for once. As I buckled in and glanced around, I couldnt help but think about the man from the café. His story had stuck with me.
I hoped the $100 Id given him would make his birthday a little brighter.
Just as I was settling in, a figure stepped into the aisle. My heart nearly stopped as I looked at his face.
A man sitting in an airplane | Source: Midjourney
It was him. The same man from the café.
But he wasnt wearing the tattered clothes from earlier.
No, this man was in a sharp, tailored suit, his hair neatly combed, and a gleaming watch on his wrist.
He caught my eye and smirked.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked casually, sliding into the seat next to me.
I stared, my brain refusing to process the scene in front of me. “What… whats going on here?”
He leaned back, a sly grin on his face. “Lets call it… a test.”
An older man in an airplane | Source: Midjourney
“A test?” I repeated. “What are you talking about?”
The man chuckled softly as he pulled out a sleek notebook from his bag.
“Let me introduce myself properly. Im David.” He paused, watching my reaction. “Kathys father.”
“Wait… youre her dad?” I blurted out. “The one Im flying out to meet?”
“The very same,” he said, still grinning. “You see, Ive always believed in a hands-on approach. I wanted to see who my daughters fiancé really is outside the polished dinner introductions and carefully rehearsed answers.”
A close-up shot of an older mans face | Source: Midjourney
I couldnt believe it. Why didnt Kathy tell me about this? Was she a part of this plan?
“So, this was all an act?” I asked.
“A necessary one,” he replied calmly. “Its easy to show kindness when everyones watching. But I wanted to know how youd treat a stranger, especially one who seemed to have nothing to offer you. Turns out, you passed the first part.”
“The first part?” I echoed. “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 in his seat. “Tell her why you love her, why you want to marry her, and how youll take care of her. Dont overthink it. Be honest.”
I stared at the blank page as beads of sweat formed on my temples. This wasnt what Id signed up for. But as much as I wanted to protest, I knew I couldnt.
So, I started writing.
At first, the words came slowly, stumbling over thoughts and emotions. 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 trust and joy.
By the time I finished, my hand ached, but my heart felt lighter.
However, I still wasnt sure if Id pass the test. What if this was a trick question? What if Davids test wasnt as simple as it looked?
A close-up shot of a man sitting near in the window seat | Source: Midjourney
After I handed him the notebook, he looked at it for a moment. Then, he looked up with a smile.
“You passed,” he said. “Welcome to the family.”
I felt so relieved after hearing those words.
This man, who had just tested me in the most unexpected way, extended his hand. I shook it firmly, knowing I had crossed the final hurdle.
“Now, lets see how well you do at home,” he said.
An older man in a black suit | Source: Midjourney
When we finally landed and deboarded, I was both physically and mentally exhausted. As we walked through the terminal, I tried to steady my breathing, hoping Id done enough to impress him, but my nerves were still fraying at the edges.
The drive to Kathys parents house was quiet. She and her mother were waiting for us there.
Meanwhile, my mind was racing with thoughts of what the evening would bring. I wasnt just meeting her parents anymore. I had passed the “test.” But what did that even mean? Would Davids approval be enough? What would happen at their home?
Cars on a road | Source: Pexels
When we arrived, Kathys mother, Susan, greeted us warmly. Kathys brothers and sister were there too.
David, however, kept his usual serious demeanor, eyeing me across the table. I couldnt tell if he was still evaluating me or simply reserving judgment.
Dinner was an uncomfortable affair, with everyone making polite conversation while David sat back, watching everything closely.
Every time I spoke, he would nod or grunt, never offering much in return. Kathys siblings were easygoing, but Davids silence was almost deafening.
I couldnt help but wonder, Did I really pass?
A man sitting for dinner in his house | Source: Midjourney
As the meal drew to a close, David set down his wine glass and cleared his throat.
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“Youve done well, Jimmy,” he said. “Youve shown me who you really are. And that means something.”
Kathy squeezed my hand under the table.
“Ive always known you were the right one for me,” she whispered.
“Ive seen enough to know hell take care of you,” he said while smiling at his daughter. “Youve got my blessing.”
A man smiling at his daughter | Source: Midjourney
I was super happy at that point, 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 had fallen into place.
Thats when I stumbled upon a folded piece of paper on the counter.
As I unfolded it, I realized it was a receipt for a cup of coffee from the café I had visited earlier that morning. The one where I met David.
A young man looking at a receipt | Source: Midjourney
The receipt wasnt for the coffee I bought for David, though. There was an additional charge at the bottom.
“Extra donation — $100.”
I picked it up and turned to Kathy.
“Whats this?” I asked her.
“Oh, thats my dads way of tying up loose ends.”
I frowned, confused. “Loose ends?”
She leaned against the counter, her eyes twinkling. “You gave him $100 at the café, remember? He didnt keep it. He handed it to the café 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 all along? Were you a part of it?”
A man talking to his fiancée | Source: Midjourney
She gave me a sly smile.
“Well, I was,” she said. “You didnt think it was just about the coffee, did you? And how do you think Dad knew about your flight? Of course, it was me, Jimmy.”
At that point, I realized I wasnt marrying into a regular family. These people were very special, and they wanted me to realize the importance of generosity. And what it meant to be a part of this family
If you enjoyed reading this story, heres another one you might like: I thought I was doing a good deed on Christmas Eve by taking in a young man shivering in the cold. But later that night, I woke to find him in my doorway, and my breath caught when I saw what he was holding.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
