The promise Chapter 14
"Yes Mel you know I do, I've told you this before, gave you the reasons why I can't call this wedding off and you know why."
"I know Lo, just making sure, but remember anything can happen, maybe even a miracle."
Alex turned to Loren. "Loren daddy is finished, let's go to his room."
"Let's wait for Jake to tell us it's ok, and then we will."
Kelly came to take them to Eddie's dressing room. They walked in and Eddie was talking to Jake, Alex ran to hug Eddie from behind. "Daddy you were awesome, I want to sing like you."
Loren smiled and turned to Mel. "I can see him already on stage."
"He has the dreamy blue eyes, he's going to be a lady killer." Mel stated laughing.
Loren sighed. "He's a lot like Eddie was at his age."
"Lo you remember Eddie from that far back?"
Loren smiled and even blushed. "I think I loved him from day 1, the day mom took me with her to give Eddie his first lessons, our eyes locked, I blushed, I knew it Mel from that moment on, he was the one I would always love."
Eddie walked towards them carrying Alex. "So you both ready to go?"
Mel stood up first. "I am and I'm starving."
"Great, we can stop to get something to eat, you hungry Loren?"
"I'll be fine with a salad, it's late."
Mel shook her head. "Now see that's how she stays in shape, I will eat."
Eddie laughed and they all left, the limo stopped at a Chinese restaurant where Eddie picked up an order to go.
They arrived at the penthouse and Mel set all of the food on the table, Eddie and Alex went to wash up.
They sat to eat and Alex got ready for bed after his bath, Loren excused herself and went into her room, Mel had offered to pick up the dishes. Eddie stood out in the patio balcony and came back in. "Loren isn't coming back?"
"She had a headache; it was a long day today." Replied Mel.
"Yeah buying a wedding dress takes a toll on girls."
"Are you being sarcastic?"
"Didn't mean it to sound that way Mel, I just don't know what to think anymore, I know that she still loves me, yet she insists on this wedding with this guy."
Mel sat in front of Eddie. "She's been through so much, after your Aunt Lorie kicked them out of the cottage, Loren cried for days, she tried to be strong, especially months later you were all over the news and gossip shows with different girls and then finally marrying that Chloe chick, she stayed strong and went on with her life. Cam appeared when she needed support and he gave it to her."
"I never knew what happened Mel, Jake went to deliver her my note, I tried calling her, the label got very insistent that I go that night, believe me I didn't want too."
"But you broke your promise to always be there for her, that hurt her the most, the moment you didn't show up for your wedding, that shattered Loren, she was never the same, she tried to pretend like it was nothing, but she was dying on the inside."
"Mel believe me when I tell you I tried looking for her, it's like the earth swallowed her and Nora."
"I'm sorry Eddie, I really am."
"Maybe I should have looked harder for them."
You could see the pain in Eddie's eyes, his eyes glowed at the mention of Loren's name and then there was heartbreak and sadness in his voice.
"If it wasn't for Alex I don't know where I would be today, I never stopped loving her Mel, she is and always will be the love of my life."
Mel looked at her watch. "It's late, I better head to bed and you need to rest as well."
"I'm not even tired, hey what did you think of the new song?"
"Oh you threw down on that one, it was for Loren right?"
Eddie smiled. "Yes I wrote it for her, heck most of my songs are about her."
"I know Eddie, and your concert was amazing, I enjoyed it."
"Did Loren enjoy it?"
Mel smirked.
"Let's just say she didn't blink once."
Eddie blushed looking away.
"Thank you Mel, I appreciate it."
Mel smiled as she headed to the bedroom. "Good night Eddie."
He waved. "Yeah sweet dreams."
As Mel closed the door behind her, Eddie walked to the fridge to get a beer, he stood in the patio balcony and took a sip, the only thing on his mind was Loren, it would always be Loren.
The following Morning it was almost 9 when Loren and Mel walked out of their room. Loren was putting on her running shoes. "Mel I'll be back, going down to the gym."
"Ok Lo, I would join you but I already had my shower."
Loren left and Alex walked out of his room. "Where is Loren?"
"She's at the gym, are you hungry?"
"Will she be long?" he asked.
"No she will be back, I asked if you're hungry?"
"Yes I am where is daddy?"
"He's still sleeping; remember he was busy this weekend? I can make something for you."
"It's ok, I'll wait for Loren."
Eddie came down from his room, he was showered and wearing shorts and a tank top.
"Why are you waiting for Loren?"
"Mel said she went to the gym and I'll wait for her to come and feed me."
"No, Loren is your teacher, not your babysitter."
"Come on, we'll make some pancakes." Eddie walked to the cabinets to get the ingredients and bowls ready.
Loren returned and took a quick shower and got ready and had breakfast. "Alex get ready for your lessons."
"I'm ready Loren."
"Do you want to sit in the Patio?"
He picked up his books. "Ok I will go and sit there."
As Loren headed to the patio, someone knocked on the door. Eddie was nearby and he opened it to find a person holding a huge box. "I'm looking for Loren Tate."
"She's here." Eddie took the box after signing for it.
He brought in the box; Mel was sitting reading a book. "Oh that must be Loren's must be her (She stopped when she realized what she was about to say.) "Her what?" asked Eddie.
"It's her wedding dress; here I'll take it to her room."
Eddie stopped her. "No, leave it here; when she's done she can carry the box herself."
Mel could tell Eddie was upset; the whole idea of Loren going through with this wedding was killing him.
A few hours later Loren came in from the patio, she was done for the day with Alex.
"Daddy can I go to the pool?"
Mel interrupted. "Alex go get ready, I'll take you."
"Ok I'll be back soon!" As he ran to get ready Mel looked towards Loren who stood typing in her iPad. "Lo that box arrived for you."
"Ok Mel, thanks."
Alex returned with his swimming trunks and a towel and held Mel's hand and they walked out.
Loren finished whatever she was typing and picked up the box. "Need help with that Loren? It's not too heavy is it?" asked Eddie.
"No thank you, it's fine."
He stepped in front of her. "You're still going through this whole wedding fiasco?"
Loren rolled her eyes and looked away. "How many times are you going to ask me that?"
"You know that's the only thing I don't miss about you, you're very stubborn."
"Oh great, now I'm stubborn?"
"Yes! You want proof, here it is, you're holding the box with your wedding dress, a dress you should be wearing for our wedding."
Loren tried walking around him. "Eddie I came on this tour for Alex, I don't need you hounding me about my wedding to Cam, if this is going to be a problem then I can't work like this!"
"You can't take the truth, you can't even look me in the eyes and tell me you've stopped loving me, do it Loren."
"Do what Eddie? What is it that you want me to do?"
"Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't love me anymore, face the truth Loren, I will not bother you ever again."
She looked away, tears wanting to escape her orbs. "Eddie please, don't do this."
"All I'm asking you is to look at me and tell me you don't love me."
Loren looked down; she dropped the box and sat in the sofa. "I don't love you."
Eddie laughed. "I said to look at me, and you can't and you know why Loren? You love me as much as I love you."
Loren thought her heart would beat right out of her chest, she wanted to run and never stop, this was too hard, she couldn't look at him, she couldn't tell him she still loved him and only him, she felt trapped, but there was no way she was going to be able to say this to him. She got up from the couch, and picked up the box and walked away, slamming the door of her room behind her.
Eddie smiled this was one promise he wasn't going to break, Loren will get married, just not to Cam, she belonged with him.
Weeks later Mel flew back home, she had spent 2 weeks with Loren, Eddie's tour now took him to Boston, then New Jersey. As they arrived in New Jersey, Cam flew in to spend a couple of days with Loren.
He booked a room at a nearby Hotel. As soon as Loren was settled and the Hotel nanny was called, she went out to dinner with Cam.
"It's been a long 10 weeks, skyping and face time with Loren wasn't enough for Cam, he had to fly in to see his fiancé.
"So is it fun living out of a Hotel?"
Loren smiled. "It has its advantages."
"Well enjoy this, because once we're married, you can't tour with Eddie anymore, he's going to have to get someone else to tour with him."
Loren played with her hands looking away from Cam's look. "I know Cam, I should be back home in a month, there should be another tour for the southern states in 4 months."
Cam smiled as he reached for her hand. "By then you will be Mrs. Cam Phillips, so that tour will be Eddie's problem."
"I know Cam." Her smile was weak, would she be able to go through this whole wedding scenario, would she survive?
"Oh I was able to get that huge park for our reception, they will put up tents for us and we will be married there."
"Looks like you have everything under control."
"Yes I think it's all ready, when you get back we can mail out the invitations, I made an extra 10 just in case."
"Is it time to mail them out?"
"Loren when you get back we will have about 11 weeks left."
"Time is flying by so fast isn't it?"
Cam leaned in close to her. "I can't wait Loren, I love you so much."
Loren's smile was very weak and she let out a sigh as she responded. "Me too Cam."
Loren was busy during the day with Alex, after 4 days Cam flew back home. Eddie was at rehearsals during the week, his concerts were during the weekend.
One evening Loren went shopping to make supper, she was so tired of take out.
"What are you making Loren?" asked a curious Alex.
"I hope you love spaghetti, I make the best sauce."
"I love spaghetti Loren, can I help you?"
She prepared all of the ingredients and she had the sauce simmering and the pasta cooking. Alex helped her butter the French bread and she prepared a salad with lots of greens.
Within a few hours, dinner was ready, it's like Eddie knew something was up because he showed up as she was serving Alex a plate of spaghetti. "It's smells amazing in here, what did you order?"
Alex spoke up. "Loren made spaghetti daddy."
Eddie dropped his things and walked into the kitchen. "Loren I love your spaghetti."
"I'm sure we're tired of take out, thought this would be a treat."
Alex sat enjoying his plate of spaghetti, Eddie walked towards Loren as she served a plate of her famous dish.
"Loren this is how I pictured us. " He held her hand and kissed it. Loren handed him the plate of spaghetti. She served herself a plate and sat down next to Alex. He looked so cute with his whole face splattered with sauce. "Loren you have to marry daddy, we both need you."
Loren smiled. "Thank you Alex." Her eyes went directly towards Eddie. He smiled back, at that moment, you could see the love these two felt for each other.
Their eyes made contact, I'm sure you could hear their hearts beating faster than ever.
Sorry I know it's not the perfect ending…but it will get better! R & R