Finally, when all three babies were quiet, he carefully placed Noah back in my arms. “You’ve got this,” he said warmly. “You’re stronger than you think.”

I couldn’t speak. My throat was too tight, my heart too full.

Before returning to the cockpit, he gave me one last reassuring smile. Then he slipped away as quietly as he had appeared.

Later, when the plane landed and passengers began to shuffle out, a woman tapped me on the shoulder. “That was one of the kindest things I’ve ever seen,” she whispered. “Don’t forget, you’re doing a wonderful job.”