It had been a long year away in the Middle East for Rob Stella.
The father of three was deployed in Bahrain with the U.S. Navy for the past year.
“It was unexpected and a big shock to our family when we found he would be leaving,” wife Rachel Stella wrote on Facebook.
“But today, he snuck home for good.”
Their three children weren’t expecting their father home so soon, but when Rob was able to secure a seat on an earlier flight back to the U.S., the parents decided to keep it a secret and turn his homecoming into a surprise.
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Rob told ABC News that Rachel had spoken with the mall manager in advance so that Rob could hide behind Santa’s bench on Saturday.
“I could hear my kids and I know their voice,” he said. “The signal was going to be ‘1, 2, 3’ for the lady taking the picture, and then I’d know they would be looking at her so I could pop up and be in the background.”
As soon as the photos were taken, one of Rob’s sons turns around and spots him.
“WHAT?” he exclaims. All three are frozen in shock.
Finally, there are hugs and tears, especially from Rob and Rachel’s youngest, Maddie. She would be celebrating her tenth birthday the next day.
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