The Ride

Chapter Two

Gelo

Two Days Later

"Elena, hurry up! We're gonna be late!"

"I'm coming!" she called back from upstairs as I glanced at my watch that read 10:07 AM.

We had a doctors appointment at 10:30, but at the rate she was going combined with traffic we wouldn't get there till 12. My guess was she was either putting on makeup or changing her outfit for the third time this morning.

Today was her 18 week check up with the OBGYN. We were excited and anxious because we would not only get to see updated photos of our baby but we would also learn the sex. Well kind of.

Her mom, Maria, would be meeting us at the doctors office. The plan was for the doctor to give her the sex of the baby written in an envelope so she could use it to finish planning our gender reveal this Saturday. Maria and Em were the masterminds behind getting it all together. As far as I knew, my only job was to be present and wear blue or pink depending on what I thought our baby would be. Easy. I wasn't going to argue that.

Even though Elena and I desperately wanted to know what we were having as soon as possible, we also wanted to experience the element of surprise and celebrate with our family and friends. Along with Elena's family, my mom and dad would be flying in from Toronto as well to join us. It would be our first time seeing them since AG's wedding and their first time seeing our new home. I couldn't wait to show them around the place and take them to Fring's so they could see how hard they're son had been working on establishing a well run business for his new family.

That infamous sound of clicking heels against the wooden staircase made me look up from my text message thread with my boy Owen.

"Alright I'm ready," she announced once she made it to the foyer.

I looked her over, smiled and shook my head.

"What? Is something wrong? Something on my teeth?"

"No," I grinned, "I just can't tell if we're going to sit you up on a table with ya legs cocked open or going to the Kentucky Derby."

"Oh shut up," she popped me on the arm on her way to mirror near the front door, "you know I'm the most glamorous pregnant woman you've ever seen."

I looked her up and down again as she combed her fingers through her hair, this time from behind, stroking my chin. She had on a tan body hugging dress that fit like a second skin, long black cardigan, stilleto sock boots and a floppy hat. This was what she considered casual for a cool December morning in LA. I couldn't deny she looked sexy as hell though. Especially with the little bit of weight she's been gaining in all the right places. A little overdressed, yes. But that's my baby right there.

"You got that right," I sensually rubbed her belly from behind and kissed her neck, "you ready?"

She nodded and led the way out to the car. LA traffic turned a 20 minute drive into 45 minutes easily. I listened to some of AG's new stuff while her phone was ringing off the hook. First her mom, then Em and then her job.

Yeah, she was still working. Just not at the same capacity she was when she first found out she was pregnant. Her hours were limited and she wasn't on call throughout the night, however, she still served as the lead Neonatology Specialist, Physician and trainer for upcoming neonatology residents at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. I knew there was no way to completely get to stop working, caring for babies was her passion, but I was satisfied with her taking the initiative to find the proper balance for work and our family.

Coincidently, the doctors office was in the building adjacent to where she worked. Because she was so well known and her doctor was within the same medical network, we were able to use her badge to get priority parking and building access.