Recovering Frankie and Peter

Alexia reveals why this incident with Peter was a turning point for them.

By Alexia Nepola Sep 24, 2013, 10:32 AM ET

There's never a dull moment in my life...or in Miami. My "Miami Nice" cover photo shoot with Mauricio Henao turned into a "Miami Vice" shoot without even planning it. Needless to say, the pictures turned out spectacular and the day went on. After the storm comes the calm, and calm it was.

Who's Going to Jail?

This incident at the shoot was the turning point for Peter and for me. For Peter, because he realized he needed to take control of his life and his behavior. In one second because of a bad decision, he could be in jail or even worse dead. For me because I realized that Peter needed help desperately. Things were a lot worse than what I thought they were. What you are all seeing is the aftermath of a family that goes through a tragedy as severe as ours. When something like that happens, your whole family falls apart, and that's what was happening to mine. I've basically had to recover both of my boys -- Frankie and Peter. I admit I was so involved and focused and determined to recover Frankie that I lost Peter. Peter himself was lost in his grief and didn't know how to cope with his pain. He was angry -- angry with the world and with life because it had not turned out like he wanted. First, not being able to play professional sports (he had 3 major surgeries on his shoulder) and then almost losing his brother. In addition to that, there are the challenges of being an adolescent boy and pressure that comes with it.

I decided I was taking control of him and his life MY WAY, just like my Cuban father would have done. Just like I saved Frankie, I needed to save Peter. I took his car away, money, and most importantly, his friends. It was fine with him, because now he was ready. You sometimes have to hit rock bottom to wake up and react.

He is still a "work in progress" like I've said. But the good thing is we are communicating. We can talk now. We got so many things off our chest. I've forced myself to talk to him about things in the past that were so hurtful that I never wanted him to know, but I have realized now they were important to speak about and clarify, like his Dad. You can see he has resentment towards me because of that. I'm working on it... We're working on it. Things today are so much better, and I have faith they will be just fine. I'm not giving up until we get there. My mom has been so helpful. I know you only see a little bit, but believe me, it's been 24/7 therapy (psychological) for six months now.

Meet Alexia's Mom Nancy

I remember I was afraid to leave Peter back then with Frankie for even five minutes, and today he stays with him a whole day and even at night and I don't even worry. He is so important in Frankie's life, and in mine! He has come a long way and accepted a lot of things we sometimes have to accept in life because we have no choice. On another note, I'm glad someone is having fun... Lea, Lisa, and Joanna seemed to enjoy their time while in Los Angeles. I don't think it's fair or appropriate for Joanna to have Lisa choose to walk in her wedding or Adriana’s. Why an ultimatum? She criticized Adriana and Marysol for doing that with me, and now she's doing the same to Lisa. I feel Lisa can participate in both if she wants to do and accepts.