Flight Attendant Came up to Me and Said, ‘Stay after Landing Please, the Pilot Wants to Talk to You Personally’
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 given me the chance to show a significant project to a few of our most influential investors in Los Angeles.
I 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.
Upon informing her about the meeting in Los Angeles, she gave me a hug and exclaimed, “Go get ’em, sweetheart! I’ll keep you in my prayers.
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!
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<p>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.</p>
<p>A tray of drinks was brought to me by Bethany, a pleasant-looking flight attendant, a few minutes into the trip.</p>
<p>She inquired, smiling, “Can I get you something to sip on?”</p>
<p>“Please, just orange juice,” I said, reaching up to take the glass. Bethany looked down at my wrist birthmark as I did.</p>
<p>She abruptly said, “I’m sorry, could I have your passport, please?”</p>
<p>That’s odd, I thought to myself.</p>
<p>I handed it over, confused but not willing to fight. Bethany nodded and took a close look at it before giving it back.</p>
<p>Just a routine check-in with protocol. I’m grateful.</p>
<p>Sounds awesome.</p>
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<p>After a little while, Bethany came back to my seat.</p>
<p>“Excuse me, will you be in a rush after we land?” she inquired.</p>
<p>“Yeah, I’m running late because I have a connecting flight to catch,” I said, unconsciously putting my hands together.</p>
<p>“Well, the pilot wants to speak with you after we land.”</p>
<p>“The pilot?” I enquired. “Why? I want to talk to him right now, please.</p>
<p>“I’m afraid not,” Bethany said in a grave manner. “He wants to speak with you face-to-face. You’ll want to hear this, even though I know you’re pressed for time. Should you not, you will regret it.”</p>
<p>I sat there very bewildered.</p>
<p>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 chance missing my connection because I had an important meeting coming up. However, Bethany’s persistence gave me the impression that this was a significant matter.</p>
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<p>I steeled myself and waited for the captain to approach as the plane touched down and the other passengers started to disembark.</p>
<p>The tall man with graying hair entered the cabin when it was finally empty and locked eyes with me.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>I recognized him right away from old pictures my mother had showed me. This was her childhood pal Steve.</p>
<p>The man didn’t appear pleased to see me, though.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“What’s going on?” I questioned with trembling. “What happened?”</p>
<p>With his eyes ringed 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.</p>
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<p>He coughed out, “Courtney, I’m your father.”</p>
<p>“Wait, what?” I was staring at him with wide eyes. “My dad? However, Mom stated…</p>
<p>Mom lied to me, but why? I pondered. How could she never have told me that Steve was my dad?</p>
<p>“I don’t know what Melissa told you, Courtney, but this is the truth,” Steve said. I was going to flight school when she abruptly vanished from my life.</p>
<p>“She kept her pregnancy a secret from me… I… Although it was years after your birth, I learned about it from a friend.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>I took out my phone right away and gave her a call.</p>
<p>“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?”</p>
<p>“Steve? Sweetie, what do you mean?” Still attempting to keep the truth from me, she asked.</p>
<p>“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!”</p>
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<p>There was stillness for a few seconds, and then Mom spoke. She was talking with a lot of emotion in her voice.</p>
<p>“Oh, Courtney, I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. Steve’s childhood dream was to go aviation school and become a pilot. However, after I became pregnant with you, I knew that he would give up his aspirations in order to be with us if he found out.”</p>
<p>“After a pause, I couldn’t let him do that,” she said. “I thus departed without alerting him. At the time, I felt that it was the proper thing to do, but looking back, I can see how much it has damaged us all.”</p>
<p>Steve listened, his face creased.</p>
<p>“Melissa,” he stammered out. I was incredibly in love with you. For you and our child, I would have done everything… What made you not believe me?”</p>
<p>“Steve? Oh my. Mom let out a gasp. “I… I believed I was keeping you safe. I felt afraid. Steve, I apologize. I apologize sincerely.”</p>
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<p>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.</p>
<p>“Mum, there’s a lot to process here,” I stumbled. “I’m running behind schedule for the important investor meeting. How I’m going to go to LA is a mystery to me now.”</p>
<p>When I described the investors, Steve’s eyes got bigger.</p>
<p>“Are you heading to LA? Why is this meeting being held?”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>As I told him everything about the business and the investors, I saw a change in his expression.</p>
<p>“Well then, we can’t let you miss that meeting,” he said, “because I know those investors very well, Courtney.”</p>
<p>“What? How?” I enquired.</p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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!</p>
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<p>Steve was waiting for me with wide arms as I left the room.</p>
<p>He said, “You did it!” and grabbed me tightly. “I’m so proud of you, Courtney.”</p>
<p>A knot formed in my throat as I gave him a hug in return.</p>
<p>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 of all those years I felt like something was missing, and I couldn’t help but wonder what else the future held.</p>
<p>Steve came over to our place the following week to meet Mom.</p>
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<p>Tears and 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.</p>
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<p>That night, as I lay in bed, my thoughts were consumed by the amazing turn of events. 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.</p>
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<p>Even though it was overwhelming, I couldn’t help but be grateful and excited about what the future may bring.</p>
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