Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love

Shapiro fears Ben will refuse to meet with her and break off contact. At the same time, she fantasizes about what it might be like to meet him in Portland, imagining polite small talk followed by a serious conversation. She also wonders if he will seem familiar. While waiting for his response, she reads scholarly books and articles about the legal history donor insemination. Internet searches yield more information about Ben. She scrolls through his blog on medical ethics and learns that he has been married to a Brazilian nurse he met in the Peace Corps for over 50 years. They have three children: two boys and a girl who is six years younger than Shapiro. Ben emails Shapiro and tells her he does not want to meet. Worse, he has opted not to take a DNA test and ends contact for good.

Shapiro pours herself a glass of wine to blunt her anger and vows not to respond. She and Michael then drive to a friend’s lake house for the weekend. Shapiro wonders if she will ever learn anything more about Ben and her parents. Michael assures her that this is not the end. He reminds her that she has three half siblings and an extended family who might want to know her.