A widowed man journeys far to retrieve his newborn baby, only to be denied entry onto the plane as he attempts to return home.
Bob was running behind schedule. At 40 years old, he had just received a call from a hospital in Florida informing him that a baby girl had been born, and he was listed as the father.
He almost dismissed it as a joke, but then he remembered his wife, who had gone to Florida for a short vacation he had arranged for her while he renovated their home — a surprise for her.
They had no children of their own, but they had adopted three, as adoption was something they both deeply valued. With the house under renovation, they were preparing for more space to accommodate a growing family.
Bob, having been a foster child himself, was especially passionate about adopting. He had always promised to provide a loving home to as many children as possible.
“If I can help those kids grow up to be the best versions of themselves, then I feel like I’ve truly made a difference,” he had said to Mary during one of their discussions.
Bob was also the father of two grown children from his first marriage to Ellen. They separated after she was caught cheating with the pool boy.
Two years later, Bob met Mary. After dating for a while, they married. Though they tried to conceive, they were unsuccessful, leading them to consider adoption. They never gave up on the idea of having biological children, though.
One day, Mary miraculously became pregnant. In anticipation of their new arrival, Bob decided to expand the house to include a nursery.
To celebrate the pregnancy, Bob booked a plane ticket for Mary to visit Florida, a place she had always wanted to see. But shortly after her arrival, Mary went into labor and was rushed to the hospital.
Sadly, she passed away during childbirth. Bob was informed that the baby needed to be picked up right away, so he packed his bags and flew to Florida to retrieve his daughter.
Upon arrival, he rented a car and drove to the hospital where Mary had passed. The pain of her loss lingered, but Bob focused on the task at hand — bringing their only child home.
At the hospital, he met Mrs. Sticks, a volunteer in the intensive care unit. She was 82 years old and recently widowed.
“Bob, please, take a seat,” she said gently.
Bob replied, “I’d prefer to stand.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, Bob, but your wife had complications during the delivery,” Mrs. Sticks said. Her words brought Bob to tears, and she quietly allowed him to grieve before speaking again.
“Now, I understand you’ve come for the child,” Mrs. Sticks continued. “But I must ensure you’re capable of caring for her.”
Bob assured her that he was already a father and would be a good parent to the baby. Mrs. Sticks, sensing his sincerity, gave him her phone number and said, “Call me if you need anything.” She also offered to drive him to the airport on the day of his departure.
Things went smoothly until Bob reached the boarding gate. The airline agent at the counter asked, “Is this your child, sir?”
“Of course, she is,” Bob replied.
“I’m sorry, but she’s too young to fly,” the agent said. “How old is she?”
“She’s four days old,” Bob answered. “Can I board now?”
“I’m sorry, but you’ll need to provide her birth certificate and wait until she’s seven days old before flying with her,” the agent said.
Bob, growing frustrated, asked, “What? You’re saying I have to stay here for several days? I have no family here, and I need to get home today.”
“It’s the policy,” the agent replied, turning her attention to the next passenger.
Bob realized it would take time to get the necessary documents, and with nowhere to go in Florida, he prepared to spend the night at the airport. Then, he remembered Mrs. Sticks, the kind woman from the hospital.
Reluctantly, he called her for help.
When Mrs. Sticks heard about Bob’s predicament, she immediately offered to take him and his daughter to her home. Bob was astonished by her generosity.
“I didn’t expect this,” he thought, deeply moved by her compassion.
Bob stayed at Mrs. Sticks’ house for over a week before returning to Texas. She not only welcomed him and his daughter but also helped him cope with his grief, offering emotional support and assistance with his wife’s funeral arrangements.
Bob was forever grateful for her kindness, referring to her as a true angel. Even his daughter grew attached to Mrs. Sticks, smiling and giggling whenever she heard the woman’s voice.
During his stay, Bob learned that Mrs. Sticks had four grown children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Together, they looked after the baby, took walks, and even honored Mrs. Sticks’ late husband — bonding activities that drew Bob and the family closer.
Bob came to view Mrs. Sticks as a mother figure, a comforting presence he would dearly miss when he left.
Once he received the birth certificate for his daughter, he was cleared to return home, but he remained in contact with Mrs. Sticks, never forgetting the help she had given him.
Every year, Bob visited her with his daughter until Mrs. Sticks passed away a few years later. At her funeral, a lawyer contacted Bob to inform him that she had left him part of her inheritance, just like she had done for her own children.
In honor of her generosity, Bob donated the money to a charity he founded with Mrs. Sticks’ children, including her eldest daughter, Shirley. Over time, Bob and Shirley grew close, eventually falling in love. They got married, and she became the mother of his six children.