When Rosie turned toward the kitchen, I swatted my cousin’s arm. Andie looked at me with wide eyes and whispered, ‘What? She offered.’

‘Is Coke okay?’ Rosie answered over her shoulder as she filled a glass with filtered water from the front of the stainless steel refrigerator for me.

I shot daggers in Andie’s direction. Andie hated Coke and was addicted to Pepsi, always refusing anything else. She sighed and her shoulders dropped. ‘Yes, Coke is fine,’ she replied, frowning at me.

I couldn’t help but feel a little victorious, as I was in the Coke camp. We constantly argued about which was better and I smiled a little that my biological family seemed to have the same taste as me. I wondered what else me and my grand uncle would have in common.

I heard footsteps coming down the stairs and a man saying, ‘Coming.’

I rose from my chair, my nerves mounting now that I was so close to laying eyes on him for the first time. Andie stayed in her seat, staring intently at the scene unfolding in front of her like she was watching her own real-life soap opera. When Cris rounded the corner, I was face to face with him, just a few feet away. We both froze, taking in the other person. We had the same coloring, in eyes, skin and hair. Our eyes had the same almond shape and were framed by similar heavy eyebrows. Cris’s were far bushier than mine but without my weekly grooming taming them into submission, I was pretty sure mine would be close to what I saw on him. I silently prayed that Andie didn’t mock his eyebrows, the way she constantly called me out on mine. I hoped the smile on my face appeared kind and not forced. My breath was coming fast, overwhelmed by all the emotions rushing through me all at once. I struggled to think of something to say. But as we stood there taking the other in, I noticed he didn’t say anything to me either. Maybe he was feeling just as overwhelmed as I was.

I wasn’t sure how long we stared at one another before our mutual observation was interrupted by Rosie bringing the drinks to the table. ‘Cris, come sit down, I made lunch. I’m sure we all have so much to talk about.’