Is My High School Friend Actually My Sister?! | KARAMO

So Lorraine thinks her high school friend might actually be her sister. Yeah, let's meet Lorraine and hear what's going on. Lorraine, come on out.

Hey, Lorraine.

Hey.

How you doing? How are you? I love the outfit.

Oh, thank you.

I appreciate that.

You look great as well.

Thank you.

Nice to meet you.

Thank you.

Nice to meet you.

It's a pleasure for me. So how did your friendship start with Carol?

We actually met my freshman year of high school.

Yeah.

I came from a small town. We just clicked. We just—

Y'all look alike.

We clicked. We just clicked. And it's been like that since.

So how many days apart were you born?

11 days.

11 days apart.

11 days.

Wow.

Yes.

OK. Did people constantly mistake y'all for sisters?

Yes. They would ask us all the time, are you guys sisters?

Y'all see it too.

Yeah, I see it too.

Thank you.

So they would always say, "Are you guys sisters?" And for the longest, we were like, "No, no." Yeah. We didn't know at the time.

Of course, of course. What similarities did you notice between the two of you?

Our facial expressions. I was more on the quiet side. She was like the big sister in a sense.

Yeah.

You know, so she was the one, she doesn't play. Yeah, so I mean, she's always been that friend and then when, you know, thinking, okay, we're sisters. I mean, it's been incidents where we went to a shopping mall and time we walked in the door, the lady looks at, are you guys sisters? And we just start laughing because I was like, we gotta be.

Yeah.

We gotta be.

Yes, yes. And these pictures are from your high school yearbook, right?

Yes.

Wow, okay.

Yes.

How might your childhood have changed Carol was your sister?

Oh, had I had her then, I would've been more outspoken. I'm talking a little bit right now, but normally I'm kind of on the quiet side.

Yeah.

But I know she would've boosted me up to, you know, come out.

Yeah.

You know, to be more talkative and not be so shy about things, you know?

You're absolutely beautiful, by the way.

Thank you.

Yes, you are.

I'm just saying.

Thank you. I'm saying her bone structure, your teeth, you're just so beautiful. You look so pretty.

Thank you.

So what came up at the 1994 reunion that changed everything?

Came home and we got in touch with each other. So we went to my aunt's house and we were sitting there talking and I made the comment. I said, "Yeah, my mom used to go with your dad." And it kind of was like, you know, it was more like just a passing thing.

Yeah.

I didn't really think much of it at the time. And she said, "Come go with me, I wanna take you somewhere. I want someone to see you." Went over there and she asked, you know, her mom, she said, "Who does she look like?" She said, "Looks like one of James' kids," which is the father's name. Wow. Yes. And I was just like shocked.

And at this point, this is after high school, y'all, this is 10 years later.

Yes.

Wow.

So you went through all of high school talking about, "No, we just friends.

That's not my sister." Yeah, we was just friends.

And then one little slight comment after reunion led to that.

Yes, it did.

So what do you remember about your father?

He was a nice man. He took care of me. He didn't talk much and I didn't feel a connection with him.

Got it.

And what do you remember about James, the man who potentially could be your father? I can remember being about 5. He was a cab driver. And I used to always think we were going somewhere because my mom would go sit in the car with him and I would be in there.

And the backseat.

So yeah, so it was like, okay. Yeah, yeah. You know, where are we going?

But I guess that just was maybe his way of seeing me or maybe my mom, you know, them just talking or whatever.

Yeah.

So it was like. Okay, I remember what he sounds like, I remember what he looks like, you know, but I didn't get to spend any time with him.

Did you ever talk to your mom about it?

Yes, I did.

Uh-huh.

She was not comfortable with it. She was not comfortable with it at all. You know, and I know she would get a little irritated by it, you know, because I'm thinking this other man is who my dad is, so. And then back in those days, with a married man, that wasn't something you did.

Oh yeah, that's a secret, you not telling nobody, yeah. Nowadays they put it on Instagram, back then you not saying nothing, you not saying nothing. Yeah, that makes sense.

So yeah, she was uncomfortable about it, but eventually, she never just came out and said, "Yes, that's your dad." But what she did, There's an older sibling that came to Los Angeles, and my aunt and her were friends. And my aunt used to always tell me, "Girl, you look just like those Suttons. You look just like them." And I'm like, "Then—" And the last thing I remember my mom saying when she was there, she said, "You're not gonna take a picture with your sister?" So what will it mean for you if she is your sister? It's just confirmation that what I knew in my heart, because at the age of 12, I knew, you know, and it never changed, you know? And then it was like after her and I would talk, you know, and some of the things that happened in our life, we both went through. Got it. So it's like, you know, and we've always been close.

It's just crazy to me that your potential sister could have been a classmate you hanging out with. Yes. And you had no idea.

No idea. People would always say, "You guys sisters." No, we're not sisters.

Wow. This is crazy 'cause my best friend, his name is my friend Trey, everyone has told us since we were 18 we look alike. Now I need to go see if we need to get a DNA test. You better, you better.

I'm gonna find out, all right? You better.

Well, listen, it's time to meet your potential sister, Carol. So everyone please welcome Carol to the show. Hey, Carol.

Thank you for having me. Yes, of course. Oh my God.

Hi, Carol, how are you?

I am good.

You good? Here you go, love.

Here you go.

What's making you emotional right now? What's bringing up this emotion for both of you?

Just, it's been so long and I just know, I know this is my sister. I know it is. Yeah, yeah. I know it is. What do you remember about your friendship?

You are beautiful too, am I right?

Yes, she is.

Yes, she is. I remember us being in high school. Yeah. And we would pass each other in walking and she would have this, just a different look on her face and like, like she wanted to say something to me but she never would. And I was wishing, I wish she would say something. And we went on about, we would spend time together at lunch and we would just talking, talking, talking. Never thought. Never thought. Any idea? Any idea, people would constantly ask, are you guys sisters? We're no kin. Yeah. I mean, we barely know each other.

Yeah, yeah. So. Thinking back, what would it have meant to you to grow up with her as your sister?

Oh my God, it would have been awesome. Growing up with her, we, I definitely, we would have been dressing alike. I mean, we would have been doing things together. Yes, yes.

'Cause 11 days apart, you know. Yeah, we would've been just twins.

Yeah, practically twins.

Yes, yes, yes. Yeah, practically twins.

What was your relationship with like, with your dad, James?

My relationship with my dad was awesome. I was the baby and I just thought I could do any and everything and get away with it with my dad. Me and my dad would go fishing together. Had I known there was a possibility I would've been inviting her, "Dad, let's go get her." Yeah. You know, just to be with us too.

And that's a picture of you and James, right?

That's my mom and my dad. Oh, that's your mom. Yeah. Yeah. That was my mom and my dad. Okay, got it. That was him when he had gotten sick.

But yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So your dad and mom were married for how long? 20-plus years. Wow. What did she miss out on not having your dad in her life?

She missed out having that father figure. My dad, he was a good guy. He took care of his family, he took care of his kids. So she missed out on that. If she's truly my sister, our sister, she missed out on a lot and I hate that.

Yeah, how many children did he have?

My dad had 7 kids by my mom and he had 6 outside. And this would be a 7th if it's—

Oh wow, okay, so that was busy.

I missed a lot, I missed a lot.

Okay, yeah, wow. So there would've been a lot of siblings you would've had. Oh yeah. Uh-huh. So was Lorraine the only child he never recognized, is what we hear? The only one. The only. Okay.

Do you think he knew about her? You know what? Yes, he did. Because he told my older sister, he said that he has another child somewhere. He never said where or who, didn't say if it was a male or female. Oh, okay.

So yeah, he knew that. Someone else was out there. Yes. Wow. Do you know he spent time with Lorraine and her mom?

No, I didn't know that until she told me. No, not at all.

Yeah. Oh wow. And how do you feel when Lorraine first brought up her suspicion? Because she just was at your grandma's house and just brought up out of the blue, like, you know, our parents dated.

Yeah. Like, you know, bugging my eyes, like, really? Yeah. So it started connecting the dots, people asking. And then she telling me, I'm like, oh my God. Oh yeah, yeah. And me and my siblings, we joke about, you know, Papa was a rolling stone.

Wherever he laid his hat, you know, was his home.

And— We can see that. 7 in and 6 out? Maybe 7 out. 7, yeah. Yeah, so he definitely—

How did your mom react when she met Lorraine?

Oh, she loved me.

My mom was so— She did? Oh, yeah.

My mom, all the kids that my dad had outside, my mom welcomed them all in like they were her kids.

She was good.

She was very good. She never made a difference. Never. And when my mom passed and we was at the service, my dad's oldest son, he got up and spoke. He said, That lady right there was the best stepmom anybody could ever ask for. She really truly was. She said, she never made a difference with any of us, any of the outside kids.

Wow, that's beautiful.

Yeah, so she was just a loving person.

I think one of the beautiful things about that is that we forget, like especially when you talk about 6 in or 7 in, 6 out, that she probably was going through her own stuff. Absolutely. But for the fact that she did, of course, but the fact that she didn't take it out on the kids. Exactly. Is a beautiful thing. They didn't ask to be here. They didn't ask to be here. And sometimes we forget as adults, People get in that situation, they gonna take it out on the kids. Like, you get away, you stay away. She never did. Forget like, yeah, bless your mother, was a beautiful person.

She welcomed them in loving arms just every time.

So how has your friendship changed over the years?

Well, when she went away, yeah, when she went away, we kind of missed out on each other, but once she came back, moved back, we've been just like the best girlfriends.

I mean, so we've been, since then, I mean, it's like, It's like you can't pull us apart.

Yeah. So, yeah. Do you think she's your sister?

I do because I can kind of see some of me in her.

Yeah. And then the other, one of the other sisters, she tells me all the time, you walk just like her. Yeah.

It's two sisters that walk just alike.

Well, Lorraine, are you ready to find out the truth? Because I'm ready to find out.

I know I am. I am.

Lorraine, come with me. Come with me. All right.

So Lorraine, in this envelope is the DNA truth. You have wanted, you have had questions since high school in a sense. Because everyone has said, y'all look like sisters. And then all of a sudden, years later, you started connecting dots. And I can see from your emotional reaction that she means a lot to you. She does. And so this is your truth to open, not mine.

I've been waiting 59 years to find out who I belong to. Where I belong and to know that I have all these siblings now. And I would like for Carol to come with me and open this letter.

Of course, yeah.

Is that a yes? Hold on.

Is that a yes? Hold on. Is that a yes? Are you sisters?

Oh, thank you, God. Oh, yes, I am.

I wasn't sure. I took it here. Thank you, God.

OK. I'm like— Larray, what does the card say? Let us know. Oh, I'm sorry. I know. Lorene Carol is your biological sister. I love this. Congratulations. Thank you.

Oh my gosh, I'm so happy for y'all. Oh, thank you. Y'all had me nervous for a second.

Everybody was like, "Yeah." And I was like, "Hold on, we don't know for sure yet." I forgot that.

I thought I was reading it out loud.

59 years. 59 years. But what I think is special is that the Lord saw fit to make sure y'all had a relationship even though there wasn't confirmation for y'all to have the memories of sitting and eating lunch together, to be together.

To be now best friends. Yes, and now we can have family gatherings with her entire family, her husband, and we can just have a good time together now.

Listen, the DNA is undeniable, but also so is your connection. Congratulations. Thank you so much. Thank you for trusting me with this story.

Thank you for bringing this to me.

I love you too. I love you.

I love you too. I'm so happy for y'all.

Listen, best friend Trey, you better know we about to get a DNA test, okay? Because I want us to find out Turn out we brothers too. All right, listen, congratulations.