Yuri and Elspeth set out at eight o'clock in the morning for the 45-minute drive to Boston. Inna had told them the C-section was scheduled for nine in the morning, and they wanted to make sure they had plenty of time to get there.
"But what if we have a flat tire?" Elspeth asked as they sped along.
"We will not have a flat tire," said Yuri. "I just had the car checked all over. It is in great shape."
He reached the hospital at a quarter to nine. He and Elspeth went inside and rode the elevator up to the maternity floor. Then they found Inna's room and went inside. She was lying in bed with an IV in her arm. She smiled as they entered the room.
"Hi, Papa and Mama."
"Hello, dear," said Elspeth. "How do you feel?"
Inna gave a nervous chuckle. "Ready for this to be over."
Daniel sat in a chair at his wife's side. Yuri and Elspeth stood beside him. Soon Dr. Singer arrived.
"Good morning," he said. "How are you doing today?"
"I am all right," Inna replied.
"Do you have any questions for me?"
"I cannot think of any."
"Good. Someone will be here to take you to the operating room soon."
A few minutes later, a couple of orderlies arrived with a gurney. They helped Inna onto it and then rolled her away. Daniel went with her, leaving Yuri and Elspeth to wait. For close to an hour they sat, mostly in silence.
At last Daniel and Inna reappeared. Inna was lying on a gurney transported by two different orderlies. She was pale, but smiling. Yuri went to her and took her hand, speaking to her in Russian.
"We have a son and two daughters," Daniel announced. "They each weigh between three and four pounds, but they are all healthy. They've been taken to the NICU."
"That is wonderful!" said Yuri.
"I'm so happy!" Elspeth added.
They stayed long enough to make sure Inna was going to be all right, then left for the NICU. They stepped through the double doors together, and a nurse was right there to meet them.
"I'm the father of the Roth triplets, and these are the grandparents," Daniel told her.
She led them to an incubator, in which lay the tiniest three infants Elspeth had ever seen. Two were wrapped in light pink blankets, and one was wrapped in a light blue blanket. All three of them were asleep.
"Meet Malachi Daniel Roth, Miriam Ruth Roth, and Michaela Ann Roth," Daniel said proudly.
"So you've already chosen their names," Elspeth remarked.
Daniel nodded. "Yes, we chose them awhile back."
"Inna has always been one to plan ahead," said Yuri. All three adults laughed.
"When can we hold them?" asked Elspeth.
"It's best to wait until their vitals are stabilized," the nurse told them. "In the meantime, you can do what we call 'hand hugs.' I'll show you how." She demonstrated, and the new father and grandparents copied her. Little Miriam opened her eyes briefly as Elspeth rubbed her tummy.
"Oh, you are precious!" Elspeth whispered. Miriam yawned in response.
Zoya was bundling her seventeen-month-old daughter up to go outside and make a snowman when the telephone rang. She picked the receiver up and heard her father's voice.
"Your sister has given birth to triplets, one boy and two girls," Yuri told his younger daughter. "They are all fine but will have to stay in the hospital until they are big enough to come home. Inna is fine as well, and resting comfortably after her surgery."
"I am so happy!" said Zoya. "I will see if Deedee can watch Dee for a little while for me, and if so, I will be right there."
Zoya called her husband's cousin, who lived a five-minute drive away from her.
"Sure, bring her on over," said Deedee. "No problem at all!"
"I am taking you to visit Miss Deedee for a little while," Zoya told Deirdre as she fastened her hat onto her head. "You have three new cousins, all born at the same time! I am going to meet them, and you can see them too, when they come home from the hospital."
Zoya dropped her daughter off at Deedee's and then made her way to the hospital. She found Inna's room and entered it to find her sister sitting up in bed with Yuri, Elspeth, and Daniel sitting in chairs beside her. Inna reached for her sister, and Zoya went to her and embraced her.
"I came as soon as Papa told me," said Zoya. "How do you feel? Are you all right?"
"I am fine," said Zoya. "I still cannot feel my legs. I was able to see the babies right after they were born, but then they were taken to the nursery. Dr. Singer told me I can see them again tomorrow. Have you seen them yet?"
"I wanted to see you first, to make sure you are OK," Zoya replied. "How long do you have to stay in the hospital?"
"Dr. Singer said I can go home after four days. The babies have to stay until they are four pounds."
Zoya remembered her own daughter's birth, how she'd been allowed to hold Deirdre almost right away, how the baby had spent most of the time in her hospital room for the couple of days she'd been there. She felt sad for her sister.
"I want to see them now," she decided.
A nurse met her at the entrance to the NICU. "Can I help you?"
"I want to see the Roth triplets," said Zoya. "I am their aunt. Their mother is my sister."
"I'm sorry, but only immediate family members are allowed in," said the nurse. "We have to minimize these babies' exposure to germs. You can visit them when they're stronger and healthier."
With a sigh, Zoya went back to Inna's room and explained what had happened.
"She had to tell you that," said Inna. "It is their policy, but please do not feel sad. I will make sure you are the first to know when the restrictions are lifted."
"Thank you." The sisters embraced again.