Even though he wasn’t her real father, it still hurt to hear him say it. She felt like a knife was going through her stomach.

“Did you ever really love me?” she asked without thinking, immediately wishing she’d kept that question to herself.

“I did.”

“How did you just leave your daughter behind?” A tear rolled down her cheek, and she willed it to crawl back up into her eye.

“Because I knew you weren’t really my daughter. For my own sanity, I had to just move on.”

“I can’t believe the words that are coming out of your mouth. You do realize that people adopt all the time? And that they love their kids with every fiber of their being? And that blood doesn’t matter?”

“It mattered to me.”

Kate stood up. “I hope you’ve been a better father to your real children, then.”

Paul said nothing and looked down at his hands. “How’d you find out?”

She turned back, just before walking out the door. “Sorry. I only tell my secrets to my real family members.”

The room was cold, even for spring time. Mia assumed that Carl had cranked the air conditioning down a few too many notches, his portly physique holding in too much heat. But, she was petite and thin, and she didn’t have much insulation to hold in body heat.

She pulled the cardigan she carried with her out of her tote bag and put it on. This waiting game was killing her. She knew her sister would be there any minute, and she had no idea what to expect. Her hands were sweating, which wouldn’t make a very good impression when she shook her hand the first time.

Would they shake hands? Hug? Wave from across the room? How did one act in this situation?

“They just pulled up,” Carl said, as he walked into the room. He seemed excited, like it was Christmas Eve and Santa was coming. She was a lot more trepidatious about the whole thing. As much as she wanted a sister, could they really form a bond in their thirties? Or would they end up being like distant cousins?

“Gosh, I’m a nervous wreck,” Mia admitted. “My inner thighs are shaking. I didn’t even know that could happen.” Wishing she hadn’t shared anything about her inner thighs with Carl, she looked down and wiped her hands on her capri pants.

Today, she’d chosen to wear a bright pink pair of pants, a simple white t-shirt and her sneakers. No need be too formal. She wasn’t the type.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shadow moving down the hallway. She didn’t want to appear too eager, so she looked down at the table as Kate entered the room. Finally, when she worked up the nerve, she looked up and saw her very tall sister standing there.