Chapter 1

The old man was dying, and that was the moment his daughter-in-law chose to change her mind. "Mom, these days it's reproductive freedom. I'm still willing to have a baby at all, so the Henson family ought to count itself lucky."

"Besides, I'm the one going through the trouble of carrying this child. Why should it take your family's name?"

I was quiet for a moment, then looked at my son. "Is this what you think too?"

He gave a careless shrug. "Mom, don't be so backward about it. Whoever it takes after, it's still your grandchild."

I didn't say a word. If that was what they wanted, fine.

The old man's illegitimate son knelt outside the hospital room all night. When I came out, he shuffled forward on his knees. "Mom, my name is Henson!"

I threw off his hand in disgust. "But you are not my son."

He knocked his forehead hard against the floor. "Mom! My child will carry your name!"

1

My husband was dying, kept alive by a million dollars a day in drugs, all so he could lay eyes on the grandson about to be born.

My son and daughter-in-law came off the elevator, and I stopped them. "How did the checkup go? Is the due date still next week?"

My son nodded. "Wednesday. I'll take Margery Taylor up in a bit to check her in."

I nodded, relieved. The old man had waited so long for this child.

"Your father says the baby should be called Nolan Henson. He wanted me to ask if the two of you had any other ideas."

I looked up. The two of them hemmed and hawed for a long while and gave me no answer.

Margery elbowed my son. He kept his head down and said nothing.

So she pushed him aside outright, one hand braced on her belly as she stood in front of me. "Mom, Nolan is fine, but not Henson. The baby takes my name. Nolan Taylor."

I froze for a second, sure I'd misheard. "What—what did you say?"

"Mom, everybody respects reproductive freedom now. When we got married I said I wouldn't have children. Now that I'm carrying a Henson baby, your family should be counting its blessings, not nitpicking over whose name the child gets."

The smile on my face went stiff. "Margery, he's my only son. The old man has been living just to see this grandson born."

She sneered, one hand on her lower back, and cut me off impatiently. "Mom, talk like that and there's no point. What century do you think this is? Does your family have some throne to hand down? And I'm my parents' only daughter too. If the baby takes my name, isn't it still a Henson child either way?"

She turned and called out to the people in the hallway. "Everyone, tell me if I'm wrong. Isn't that just common sense? Mom, you can't come at me like this."

"This is my own body. I have the right to decide what name the child takes. You're only my mother-in-law. Know your place. The worst thing a person can do is not know where they belong."

The onlookers stood around, chiming in, enjoying the show.

"She's overstepping a little, honestly. What century is this?"

"Men and women are equal now. Why should a child a woman carries take the man's name? Girl, well done! You do us women proud!"

I had no heart left just then to argue with any of them. I didn't add a single word. I only looked steadily at my son.

"Is this what you think too?"

He sighed, irritated. "Mom, all these people are watching. Aren't you embarrassed? Drop the old-fashioned act. Taylor or Henson, it's still your grandchild, isn't it?"

I nodded. "All right. Whatever the two of you decide."

I turned and went into the hospital room. Out of the corner of my eye I caught the two of them slapping their palms together, thrilled. "Yes!"

The lawyer stood respectfully at the foot of the old man's bed. As I came in, both of them looked over at me at once.

The old man asked weakly, "What did Margery say?"

"They agreed to the name Nolan."

Hearing that, he nodded and let out a breath, then lowered his head to the will again.

Then I said, "But the child takes the Taylor name."