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Sarah nods. “We had her about eight years after we had you. We still had no idea about you and figured you were placed with a family. We were older and both out of college. We had good jobs and thought we were finally ready to be good parents.”
It is suddenly starting to make sense as to why Michael didn’t tell me any of this. He assumed that I would be hurt that they had another daughter that they didn’t give up. A daughter they decided to keep.
But after hearing their story, I’m honestly not mad, which surprises me. I’m looking at this ordeal more as I chance to get to know my real family. A sister means there is another person out there who shares my genes. I’m not quite so alone in this big, old world.
Michael didn’t think about that, though. Maybe he was trying to do something nice by protecting my feelings. But doing it in a way that took away any choice I had in the matter is just another example of him gaslighting me for all those years.
Sarah, my mother, adds, “We were always honest with Kris about you. When she figured out we were looking for you, she got so excited to have a big sister. I think it devastated her when Michael said you didn’t want anything to do with us and implied that it was because of her.”
Tears continue to stream down my face. I’m not sure they’ve stopped since I got here. I sniffle and grab a tissue to wipe my nose.
“I’m not sure I’ll be any good at being a big sister,” I say with a small laugh.
Sarah leans in, “Don’t sweat it. Kris has no experience being a little sister either.” She gives me a wink, and I laugh.
“Do you mind if I have a moment alone with her?” I ask, standing up.
“Of course.”
I look to Jonas, and he nods that he will be okay alone for a few minutes.
Sarah follows me into the kitchen where Kris and Ken are. She leads her husband out of the room, leaving my new-found sister and me alone.
I look at her, and she has the same color eyes that we share with our father. Her hair is lighter than mine but has the same curls we share with our mother. There is no mistaking that this girl is my sister.
“You must be freaking the fuck out right about now, huh?” She asks.
I let out a loud laugh. “Just a little.”
“I can only imagine.” She walks over to the fridge. “As much as I normally love my parents’ coffee, I think this occasion calls for something stronger.”
She grabs a bottle of wine out of the fridge and walks over to a cabinet to grab a couple of glasses.
She pours us each a glass and walks them over to the table. We both take a seat.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “I should have asked if you even like wine. I always keep a couple of bottles of this fruity stuff here. Mom and Dad hate it. They tell me I’m too young to have a palette for good wine.”
“Oh, please. I’m thirty, and I still love the fruity stuff.” I smile.
We each take a sip and set our glasses back down.
“Kris,” I begin, but she stops me.
“Hey, we don’t have to do this whole bit. Look, I am thrilled that I have a sister and that I have actually met you and seen your face! But I’m not expecting anything from you. Would it be cool to do sister stuff and get to know each other? Hell yeah. But I’m not going to make you rush into anything. You have had your whole world turned upside-down. I don’t know what that feels like, so I won’t presume to tell you how to handle it.”
“Thank you,” I say. “But make no mistake, I do want to try to do the sister thing.”
She gives a warm smile in return.
Ken walks back in with Sarah and Jonas following behind him. “Okay, enough of the tears! How about I order a pizza, and we all get to know each other a little bit better?”
I look to Jonas, and he nods once again.
Like I expected anything different.
Over the next few hours, I learn all about my new family.
I learn Ken is a day-trader and has done very well in the stock market, which explains their beautiful home. Sarah is a nurse at a pediatrician’s office, and Kris is finishing up her degree to become a veterinarian.
