This is a true love story
My father did not raise me. He left my mother and me when I was still a baby. He did keep in contact and saw me occasionally. I must have seen him only on Sundays because I remember calling him my Sunday Daddy. I have just a few memories of him, mostly remembering that he was fun to be with and affectionate. He did tuck me in at night and gave me kisses and hugs all the time.
Before I even entered school, my father moved away. At the time, I really didn't understand what this meant. It was important, though, and I remember watching a plane in the sky and asking my mother if Daddy was on that plane. I never heard from him again. From that time on, I didn't think too much about him. My mother found another man and married him, and I was happy to be in a family.
As I grew older, I started to think of my Daddy, and when I was 18, I got up the nerve to ask my mother to help me find him. I know this hurt her, but I wanted to know where I came from and who the other part of me was. Much to my surprise, my mother found his address and gave it to me. She was sad that I wanted to do this, trying not to make it seem I was somehow being disloyal. In some way, I think she understood why. She wished me luck in contacting him.
My father was living in LA, far from me. I wrote a letter, then rewrote a letter, and several drafts later, I finally had one letter. What do I say to someone who may or may not want me in his life? Dear Dad? Remember me? I had not seen nor heard from him since that long-ago day. Does he even want to know me? I don't remember what that letter said. I just mailed it. And prayed he would answer.
For the first two weeks, I was afraid to get the mail. I watched for his answer with hope as well as trepidation. After one month, I started to think he was not going to answer. Well, what did I expect? Here I was barging into his life. After about six weeks, I stopped looking for a letter. When you stop searching, what you want comes to you. A letter arrived almost two months after I had mailed mine.
My hands trembled as I opened it, afraid of what it said. Tears poured forth, but they were tears of joy. He wanted me. He was interested in me. He missed me over the years and couldn't believe his luck that I wanted to know him, too. We started sending letters back and forth getting to know each other, talking about our lives.
Time passed quickly and my life at home was changing. I was a grown woman now, or thought I was at 20. I felt I wanted a different life and asked Dad if I could move in with him and start a new life in LA. He talked this over with his wife, and since I was this man's only daughter, she agreed to let me stay with them for a time. My father sent a plane ticket to me and I flew to LA to meet the man I really never knew.
I was very nervous when I got off that plane, not knowing what to expect. However, there was my Daddy, with a huge smile on his face and love in his eyes. He hugged me tight to him and just about never let me go. He introduced me to his wife, a different woman from the one he had left my mother for. She was open and friendly, happy to share in this family reunion.
I spent a lot of time alone with my father. We talked and talked. We went sight-seeing and out to eat. We went for walks and talked even more. I found out his reasons for leaving my mother and me. I also found out that he never had any other children. I was his one and only. I was surprised and felt even more special than he was already making me feel. I discovered so much of myself in knowing my father. We had many things in common.
Even after all the years apart, I can't remember ever calling him anything other than Dad. And every possible second he could, Dad was touching me, holding me, hugging me. I enjoyed the attention he gave to me and eagerly allowed his every touch. Our relationship grew in many ways, and in other ways that I would come to know later.
I was busy after I arrived, and being an independent person, I figured out the bus system and found myself a job, which I started immediately. I made my way around and started to settle in. Dad was pleased that I was able to find work so quickly and make my way. The thing that brought joy to my heart was how proud he was of me. I only wanted to make him happy.
My new life was building quickly. My employer was impressed with me and was talking of an early promotion. I was making new friends and learning the joys of California living. I was very happy. One of my pleasures was in taking long walks with Dad. I had wanted to get into better shape and he wanted to spend the time with me. We walked miles around the neighborhood, talking, laughing and holding hands.