The conversation happened on a Saturday morning, while Emma was in her studio and the Harrison children were occupied with various activities. Robert found his son in the library, surrounded by books he wasn't reading, staring out the window at the gardens beyond.

"Can we talk?" Robert asked, sitting down across from him.

"About what?" Alex asked, his voice carefully neutral.

"About us. About Emma and her children. About what happens next."

Alex was quiet for a long ...