The Ride

Chapter Twenty-Four

Two Weeks Later

May 21st 2017

Elena

"Gelo are you almost done? They're coming on next!"

"I'm coming, woman. Sheesh," I heard him mutter under his breath.

"What was that?"

"I said, I'm coming my love," he walked back into the living room with a smile and the snacks I requested in hand.

"Mhmm," I shot him side eye as he handed me a bag of sour gummy worms, jalapeño chips and a Sprite, "thank you."

"You're welcome," he sat down beside me on the couch and immediately reached for the baby monitor.

I shook my head but couldn't help but smile as he checked on the twins for the tenth time since we put them to sleep fifteen minutes ago.

Things had been going well since we got the all clear to come home a few days after Frankie and Finn were born. The doctors still wanted me to take it easy, so Gelo was helping out tremendously.

He got up with them throughout the night and rocked them back to sleep so my body could continue resting. He made sure the house stayed clean, prepared breakfast and dinner, ran errands, changed every diaper that he could and gave baths.

I would try to jump in and help him, but he was extremely cautious and would always tell me that he had it under control. He didn't want me to lift a finger unless I was breast feeding or cuddling them.

Although I understood where he was coming from, I would find myself getting frustrated with him. I knew what happened with me in the hospital scared him to death, but I wasn't fragile. I had gotten through it and was still standing.

To be honest, I barely remembered anything that happened to me after they were born. After that moment of telling Em that I knew something was wrong with me, everything was a blur. When I heard about the seizure and being in a coma, I was shocked. I couldn't even imagine what Gelo and my family were going through as they waited for me to pull through.

There wasn't any way that Frankie and Finn would be without their mama. I was too tough for that. I've always felt that motherhood was my purpose on this planet. There was faith that God wouldn't allow me to leave without experiencing that. Even if that faith was only the size of a mustard seed, it was all that I needed.

"Welcome back to the 2017 Billboard Awards Red Carpet Pre-Show, we are now being joined by Drake who leads all artist tonight with 22 nominations and New York Times Best Selling Author, tv personality and chef Mrs. Emilia Carrick-Graham. How are you both enjoying Vegas?"

"Aww, they look so good!" I said as they both stepped up next to one of the red carpet host of the evening for E! News.

Aubrey rocked his signature casual look in a long sleeve top and slacks while showing off some of jewelry around his neck and wrist. Emilia, however, was what everyone's eyes were fixated on.

She wore a body hugging silver gown with a sexy thigh high slit, showing off her toned legs and a pair of white, strappy heels. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek, low ponytail that cascaded down her back. The makeup was her signature soft smokey eye, bronzer and a nude lip. This time she went for lashes, which I knew she couldn't wait to peel off when the night was over. I loved a good pair of lashes, but my sister hated them.

No doubt that she looked absolutely amazing, but I couldn't help but think about how postpartum depression had contributed to her significant weight loss. It's crazy how Hollywood praised her looks, but didn't know the half of it. I only wondered how many other women in the industry went through the same.