Moments, whether found in old photos, a kind stranger, or a voicemail, can hit us in ways we might never have expected. So when Lina Perez’s mother’s best friend left her a voice message, it wasn’t what was said that moved her. It was the reason behind the phone call at all.

Beverly Ooley, a 92-year-old woman, left a message that Perez will “never delete.” She stated her wishes clearly: she wanted to leave Perez her beloved china set, full of delicate plates, gold-plated water glasses, and serving dishes. But what made this extra special is Perez and Ooley aren’t relatives by blood. They’re relatives by maternal friendship.

View this post on Instagram

It began with a tea party

On Perez’s Instagram reel, we see images and footage of a woman packing up her gorgeous dishware. The viewer is also treated to a garden tea party with piping hot steam coming from teacups, tiny sandwiches, and pastries.

The overlaying audio is that of a voicemail, in which we hear: “Hi Lina, this is Beverly Ooley. I’m a friend of your mom’s. I came to the party that she gave the tea at. And I was wondering…I have a china set that I would like to give you. I don’t have any children, so you would be next in line, because you’re my best friend’s daughter. Anyway, if you’re interested, it’s a 12-piece set and it’s got lots of goodies with it. So give me a call back if you are interested.”

Perez shared, “This isn’t about the china. Knowing that she chose me to be the next person to have something that she has treasured for so many years........

© Upworthy