It happened at dinner, a casual gathering on a Sunday evening that had become a weekly tradition. The Harrison children, Alex, Robert, and Emma, all gathered around a table that was large enough for everyone but intimate enough for real conversation.

Alex had been quiet through most of the meal, listening to the others discuss their weeks, their plans, their various projects and concerns. But as dessert was served, he cleared his throat and spoke.

"I was thinking," he said, his ...