Maria: whispering, fidgeting with her bracelet Are you... Dad? I mean, I've seen pictures, and... uh...
Yeah, I have one too, my daughter Maria was just taken for adoption Hugs
steps back, tears welling up in her eyes Adoption? You mean someone took my sister away from me? Why didn't anyone tell me?
Because no one wanted you to go through an unhappy childhood
takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself Well, I'm here now, and I want answers. Where is my sister? What happened to her?
My wife and I adopted her in the first few years of her life. We kept her until she was 10 then we had to move to New York because of my work. She was very sad to have to leave her adoptive home and life in Brazil. She was too young to come with us, so we decided to put her up for adoption. We thought some couple who were able to provide her with more than we could would give her the best life possible
nods, wiping away tears Thank you for telling me. I need time to process all of this. Let's meet again tomorrow and discuss how we can find my sister.
Sure thing. How about we meet at the Corcovado statue at 10 am? That way we can take a stroll along the beach and talk more about this whole situation without people walking by overhearing us. Sound good?
takes out her phone and starts looking for information about adoption agencies in Brazil I'll start researching which agencies might still have records from 15 years ago.
Good idea. Also, why don't we make copies of our birth certificates so we will have a backup in case the original gets lost. Just walk right down the block to the local courthouse. They have photocopy machines there. Then let's grab some food at a restaurant nearby while we talk more about our childhoods and how we ended up in different adoptive homes. Sound good?
puts her phone away and nods Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Let's get those copies made and grab some food. I'm starving after all this emotional rollercoaster.
Yeah, I'm pretty hungry too. Let's go to the restaurant around the corner
as they walk towards the restaurant, scanning the area You know, I always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling. Maybe we could have been each other's companions growing up.
Yeah, maybe we would have been each other's best friends
smiles, trying to lighten the mood Well, guess we'll have to make up for lost time now, won't we? Two best friends, coming together in the blink of an eye.
That's exactly what I'm hoping for
quickly scanning the restaurant menu Let's order quickly, I'm starving! I'll get the chicken fajitas with extra avocado and sour cream, and you get the steak sandwich with fries.
Actually, I think I'll get the same as you.
starts eating quickly, speaking with her mouth full So, tell me more about your childhood. What was it like growing up with Mom? And what about your wife?
The first ten years of my life were spent in Rio de Janeiro. My mother was an actress in Brazilian telenovelas. I remember staying on set with her when I was little. I saw at least 20 of her co-stars fall in love with her and then leave the show when she wouldn't date them. One day, one of them put a date rape drug in her lunch. She passed out and was kidnapped and later found raped and pregnant with me. She had to stop her career and move to a different city to have me and take care of me. She actually died giving birth to me. That's why I became interested in acting and directing at a young age. My wife, oh my wife. She is wonderful. I met her in New York when I was working on a Broadway play. She was in the audience and approached me after the show because she loved my performance. She moved to New York a month later, we dated and fell in love and got married a year later. She is amazing
leans back in her chair, processing his words Wow, your mom's story is heartbreaking. It's no wonder you followed in her footsteps.
Yeah, I wanted to make her proud and keep her memory alive
leans forward, looking determined Well, I'm sure she's proud of you, Reef. You've accomplished so much, and you're doing an amazing job raising your daughter.