Chapter 3

Jack introduced the Mercers in the front row as the family he'd finally chosen to honor.

"Our father sacrificed his dignity to give us a good life," he said. "We're changing our names so he'll never feel ashamed again."

Daniel's mother burst into tears. So did Daniel. My sons embraced them as though they'd escaped years of oppression.

I stood beside Dad's portrait, unable to believe they were using his memorial to make this announcement.

The brothers said Daniel had been denied respect at dinner and excluded from the annual family-history ceremony.

For one desperate second, I wondered if there had been a cruelty I hadn't seen.

Then I remembered the missed dinners: Daniel arriving late because he'd spent the afternoon playing cards instead of helping Mom cook. I remembered him refusing invitations to family meetings because he "couldn't stand boring speeches."

The ceremony ended in disgrace. As our relatives gathered around me, Daniel's mother said something about the grandsons finally taking their rightful place.

I made a decision. They were free to choose a name. I was free to decide where my loyalty and my father's estate would go.