Reginald's shock at her question was apparent. It quickly turned to pleasure, and he answered, "I would like nothing more. I wasn't aware you hadchildren."
Valeri left the room momentarily and returned with Ohber. Running at their side were two small boys. Each had the dark hair and pointed ears of their father. Reginald saw his own eyes reflected back from their translucent faces. The pair stopped in front of him with a quizzical look. The slightly taller one asked, "Are you really our grandfather? You're very old andhuman."
Reginald hadn't smiled or laughed in years, but the frank words of his grandson caught him off guard. He roared with laughter. The little one in Ohber's arms awoke with a startled cry. For the first time, he noticed the pink blanket that held his granddaughter. "May I hold her?” he asked morecalmly.
Ohber carefully placed the baby in Reginald's outstretched arms. He brought her close to his chest and began to sway. The baby stopped wailing. Tears rolled from his eyes when he looked into the tiny face. "She's an exact replica of you,” he toldValeri.
"Not quite,” she replied. Stepping forward, Valeri opened the blanket. Four little arms were released and four tiny hands wrapped around hisfingers.
"She's perfect,” he declared. "They all are." He turned to Ohber and continued, "I don't blame you if you hate me. I was an awful, evil man. I'm sorry for the pain I caused you and the way I thought of aliens. That man no longer exists. I won't ask for your forgiveness, but I want to say thank you for letting me meet these precious children despite my actions. You are a goodman."
Ohber replied, "I cannot hate you. Without you, there would be no Valeri. If you had not locked me up, I would never have met her. These children would not exist. I forgave you longago."
The twins decided that the adults had been talking long enough. They jumped on the couch, sitting on each side of Reginald and demanded, "Tell us a story about mommy and Uncle Victor when they were little. Were they wild like daddy says weare?"
Reginald relaxed and sat back on the couch. He continued to rock his granddaughter as he told stories about his children for the rest of his allowed time. When he was taken out to the van, his children hugged his thin frame for the first time in many years. Valeri was finally atpeace.
