A janitor adopts a baby he found on an airstrip, his mother reappears on his 18th birthday

At 41, Henry, a widower with a brood of four, made a living as a custodian at a local airstrip, stretching his modest income as far as it could go. Despite facing financial constraints and their stretched resources, Henry and his children were supported by his benevolent colleagues who often contributed hand-me-down clothes, toys, and occasionally meals but not cash, as Henry wouldn’t accept it.

One seemingly ordinary day turned extraordinary when Henry, clearing the airstrip after a plane’s arrival, stumbled upon a forgotten stroller. Inside, a toddler girl, around two, lay sleeping. Henry’s confusion was palpable – how could someone leave their child behind, and how had the security services missed her?

After taking the stroller to the airport security, the girl awoke, her tears flowing as she called out for her mother.

With no one in sight to claim the little one, Henry’s paternal instincts surged as he cradled her, reassuring her that her mother would find her soon. Meanwhile, his gaze lingered on the bustling airport crowd for any signs of the child’s parent.

When the authorities arrived and made the necessary announcements to locate the parent, to no avail, Henry knew he couldn’t leave her alone. He offered to care for the girl temporarily, and, after some official verification, the police tentatively agreed, expecting social services to take over the following day.

Henry included a short shopping trip to ensure the girl’s immediate needs were met. Back home, the new arrival was joyfully received by Henry’s children, and they welcomed her into their family.

However, as the girl slumbered peacefully that night, Henry’s concerns about her future grew. Not wanting to see her in a shelter, he considered the possibility of adopting her. By morning, his decision was firm.

Despite initial resistance from the social worker, Henry’s persistence paid off. They allowed him to become her temporary guardian with the stipulation that he undergo a background check to become an adoptive parent – a challenge he readily accepted and completed.

In the following months, the girl remained unclaimed, leading to her official adoption by Henry. Named Blessie for the blessing she brought into his life, she seamlessly integrated into the family, unaware of the future surprises ahead.

With Henry’s promotion and increased earnings, life brightened for them all. Then, on Blessie’s 18th birthday, Henry’s world was shocked when a wealthy-looking woman appeared, wearing dazzling high heels and bearing a resemblance to Blessie.

This unexpected visitor, Ayleen Morales, claimed to be Blessie’s mother, returning after 16 years, not for a family reunion, but with financial intentions. Henry’s world seemed to shatter at her words.

“Do you truly come seeking her after all these lost years? Leave now, or I will summon the authorities! She’s beyond the reach of your riches!”

The lady chuckled in response, leaving Henry utterly agape.

“Henry, my dear, there’s no need for such drama. Back then, my mind was clouded, my readiness for motherhood non-existent… A woman’s existence isn’t confined to her offspring. Now, I’m here to reclaim my daughter.”

“Reclaim her?” Henry fired back. “She’s not an item to be cast aside and retrieved at will. I am her lawful guardian, and she bears no ties to you!”

“Very well,” she proposed. “Let’s strike a bargain: you hold on to her, I’ll retain the inheritance rightfully hers – a sum of $3 million left by my deceased spouse. I only desire to keep the fortune to myself. Should she consent at the attorney’s office to relinquish her claim, she’s yours. Here’s where you need to be,” she offered, sliding a card with an address into his hand. “See for yourself and understand.”

The news struck Henry like a thunderbolt.

Luckily, his daughter Blessie wasn’t home during Ayleen’s unwanted visit, so the encounter was cut short. Nonetheless, Blessie sensed distress clouding her father’s face upon her return, and upon learning the truth, she was adamant.

“Dad, her schemes won’t work on me. We’re a family. Why entertain her nonsense?”

“It’s bewildering, sweetheart. She covets a vast inheritance your father bequeathed you. That’s all she’s after, leaving behind her address for the attorney.”

Tears welled up in Blessie’s eyes.

“To think she discarded me, only now to chase after the wealth! I refuse to grant her a single cent! But I’ll visit that lawyer, if only to seek some truth.”

Blessie yearned to fill the gaps in her knowledge about her elusive father and hoped the lawyer might shed light on her past. Accompanied by Henry, she confronted the attorney’s revelations, which shattered her from within.

Her father, Ronald, had been a man of substantial means, but Ayleen’s union with him was a facade motivated by greed, not love. She never intended to nurture Blessie, assuming the role of a caring mother only to bask in Ronald’s prosperity. Tragically, her plans crumbled when Ronald met with a fatal accident soon after Blessie’s second birthday, having already altered his will – a fact unknown to Ayleen.

Upon learning that Ronald’s last testament excluded her, placing Blessie as the sole heiress upon reaching adulthood, Ayleen’s wrath knew no bounds. With Blessie abandoned and Ayleen herself long-gone overseas, she bode her time, only to reemerge 16 years post-abandonment with voracious intent.

With bitter tears, Blessie declared, “She’s the epitome of wickedness!” Her craving for wealth is despicable, but she’ll be met with nothing but emptiness.”

Indeed, Blessie staunchly refused to sign away her fortune. Eventually, she assumed control of her inheritance, along with Henry’s stewardship.

Ayleen’s machinations persisted, as she resorted to harassment, but her attempts were thwarted once they alerted the authorities.

Embracing Henry one evening, Blessie shared, “Finding you, Dad, has been my greatest fortune. Can you fathom, Mom returned driven solely by greed? I loathe her for it!”

“Yet, anger should not consume you,” counseled Henry. “Adversity often illuminates the precious facets of life. But for her failings, we might never have become a family. My love for you is boundless. How splendid it is to have you in my life,” he concluded, as the warmth of a tight embrace enveloped them both.