Discovering my identity and an aunt I didn't know I had, pt. 3

Eventually, Mum decided to spit in a tube and send it to Ancestry too.

Before that, she decided to start talking to Maria. She told me she was nervous. But as soon as they started talking, she said she felt the connection too.

I remember her telling me that she wasn't sure what the results would be, but it didn't matter. She had a gained a sister.

She met her in person in February of 2019 at a restaurant in Florida. She said that while she hadn't seen a recent photograph of her, she knew it was her when she spotted her. She chalks it up to possible family resemblance. They were there for hours.

Last Christmas, I got to meet the woman that genetics had determined was my half-Aunt Maria. Just like the phone conversation I had rehearsed, I was anxious and tried to have a plan of things I wanted to say. I know I liked her and couldn't explain why, because of my gut, but maybe things would be different in person.

As it turns out, they weren't. I liked her even more.

In fact, I felt a strong sense of calm with her presence and in her home.

I started laughing as she gave me a tour. Dotted throughout her shelves were various styles of cobalt blue glasses, bottles and vases. Not everyone knows this, but Mum has collected cobalt blue glassware for some time. It was kind of eerie and cool all at once. Two people that have never met, that turned out to be sisters had similar taste in decor. But that wasn't all.

When we sat down to chat - my brother, Mum, Maria, Ali and I - Maria and Mum began to finish each other's sentences. Maria began offering everything she possibly could to eat and drink. Mum is the same way. Ali made us some mint mojitos.

Ali and I would laugh and make similar facial expressions.

Mum and Maria got lost in the pantry talking about different things and sharing different items that they both had a taste for. Ali started chuckling.

"Do you hear them?" she said.

It was hard not to.

They both had on white shorts and patterned tops.

They started talking about different flea market finds. Maria would start offering her things. That action was something Mum was also famous for. Most times when you leave Mum's house, she's giving you something. Even if you bring things for her, she's going to have things for you to leave with.

To this day, I don't know if my Papa knew he had another daughter. Whether he did or didn't isn't for me to try to rack my brain deciding. Knowing and caring for someone won't splinter my memories.

But I do wish he did know her and I wish she knew him. Because I think he'd love her. And I think she'd love him. She cares for animals in the same way he did. She has a kindness that emanates. As Mum put it, "To know her is to love her."