Page 105 of Emerald Vices

Dr. Abdulov walks her through how and when to push, but it doesn’t seem like Natalia needs it. She goes red in the face with every effort, nearly crushing my hand in her grip.

“Okay, Natalia. That’s great,” the doctor coaches her.

But she looks to me. I kiss her sweaty forehead. “You’re doing amazing. Keep going.”

With a nod, Natalia grits her teeth and pushes hard, hard, hard. This time, I’m worried she’s going to pass out. “Breathe,” I tell her, rubbing her back as she prepares to push again.

She takes a deep breath and, with a scream, Natalia delivers our first baby.

“I’ve got her!” Dr. Abdulov says a moment later, a piercing cry filling the delivery room.

Natalia’s head falls back against the soaked pillow. Her face is blotchy, and her eyes flutter closed.

But Dr. Abdulov doesn’t give her any time to recover. “I’m sorry, my dear, but no rest, I’m afraid. The second baby is coming. Give me another push.”

“I don’t think I can push anymore, Andrey,” she sobs. “I’m so tired.”

“Just give me two more pushes, my lastochka. Two more and we’ll be done.”

She shakes her head, but I grab her face and force her to look at me. “You don’t need me to do this for you. You don’t need anyone. You’re strong, you’re fierce, and I know you have two more pushes left inside you.”

“Natalia, now,” Dr. Abdulov orders.

She grips my hand tight and pushes.

“Excellent,” Dr Abdulov cries. “Excellent. I see the head. One more push, Natalia.”

There’s another scream, and then the doctor stands back, another baby in his arms.

Natalia collapses against her pillow, her eyes rolling back with exhaustion.

“Our girls. You did it,” I tell her. “You did it.”

But Dr. Abdulov is staring down at our second little girl with a slight frown between his brows.

“What’s wrong?” I bark.

Natalie’s eyes snap open. She just gave birth to twins, but she’s almost off the bed trying to get to the doctor. “Nothing is wrong. What do you mean? Are the babies?—”

“They’re fine,” Dr. Abdulov assures us with a sheepish smile. “Both perfectly healthy. But it seems there was a slight misreading in previous scans.” Dr. Abdulov hands the baby boy over to one of the nurses. “You are now the proud parents of a healthy baby girl and a healthy baby boy.”

“Andrey,” Natalia trills, “did you hear that?”

“I heard.” I drop my lips to her forehead to hide my shock. “You did amazing.”

Two nurses approach us with identical little bundles in their arms. One is wrapped in a pink blanket and the other in blue. They place our daughter on Natalia and our son on me.

The second the weight of my son is in my grasp, something shifts inside me—something cosmic, otherworldly, something larger than I am.

And I feel whole.

44

NATALIA

The moment my eyes open, I’m looking for my babies. Does Grigory need a new diaper? Is Sarra hungry?

For a week now, they are all I’ve been able to think about. I’ve had dreams of rocking them to sleep and warming bottles.