Hello everyone! Sorry for being so late, so much going on and then COVID-19 appears, turning our lives upside down, so please stay home, stay safe, this is the only way we can contain this horrible virus! Do your part! Do it for your family, friends and your neighbors.
Enjoy this chapter and please kindly review, I don't want to stop writing, I really enjoy it, especially with Leddie, I will try and post sooner, but to do so, I need your help, so please kindly review!
Always the One Hollywood Heights
C-4
Loren can't believe her eyes. She bends down to acknowledge the little girls that have run up to her. "Thank you so much, you're both so beautiful, and whom might you be?"
One of the twins responds right away. "I'm Lyla Duran, and we're 5 and half years old, and this is my sister Lisa."
"Well Lyla and Lisa it's nice to meet you both."
Katie walks towards them. "Loren the girls are huge fans of your music."
Loren smiles giving Katie a kiss on her cheek. "Hi Katie, it's so good to see you." She acknowledges the girls once more. "Thank you girls, you're both very sweet."
Lyla calls for Eddie. "Daddy come and meet Loren."
Loren avoids making eye contact with Eddie, her legs feel light, and when she looks up, Eddie is standing right in front of her.
"Hi Loren, you look amazing, and that song was very beautiful, somehow I can relate to it." He narrows his eyes and tries to make eye contact, and Loren takes a deep breath and she looks at him with a smile.
"Thanks Eddie, it's great to see you too, where is Penny?" Loren scans the area right behind them wondering if it was too soon to ask, she knew she had to remain calm.
Eddie isn't sure how to even say it, but, he does. "She passed away Loren, right after the girls were born." He says it with a slight crack in his voice.
Loren's heart breaks. "I am so sorry Eddie."
"Thanks, it's been hard but the girls motivate and inspire me every day."
Loren nods. "I am sure they do, your daughters are beautiful."
Mel steps into the area and she sees Eddie standing by Loren, how dare he? She's upset because she knows how much Loren loves him and is still hurting, so she walks towards them.
"I am sorry to interrupt you Loren but Tony is on the phone; he wants to confirm your dinner date for tonight." She finally acknowledges Eddie.
"Well hello Mr. Duran, what brings you here?" Her tone is loud and he can tell she's not pleased he's there.
Loren responds before Eddie has a chance. "He's here with his daughters, this is Lyla and Lisa."
Mel wants to make sure Eddie hears her question and asks Loren again. "What do I tell Tony?"
Loren forces a smile; she knows what Mel is up too. "Tell him I'll see him at 7." She turns her attention to Katie and Eddie. "So how can I help you both?"
Katie is the first to speak, and the girls hold Eddie's hand and they guide him to walk around the area so they can look at all of the classrooms full of so many exciting things, like instruments and many music projects.
Katie continues. "My granddaughters love music, you've inspired them Loren, we would love them to attend this school, they're going to start kindergarten and we feel this is the right school for them because they love music and want to learn and be just like you."
Loren smiles. "That's great Katie and I do have a very long waiting list, and I can tell they love music and I wonder who they take after?"
Eddie is back and hears Loren's question. "I don't know Loren, I can't hold a note if my life depended on it, but Penny was your number one fan, and she loved your music and she was always listening to your songs during her pregnancy and I guess the girls fell for your music from utero." He adds.
"Thank you, that's so sweet, Penny was always encouraging me." Loren looks through her tablet. "I did tell Katie I have a long waiting list." She stops and looks at Katie. "I will add them so they can attend right away, but, please don't let anyone know I did this."
Katie holds Loren's hands. "Thank you sweetheart, I knew we could count on you."
Loren smiles even though her heart feels heavy. "I'm doing this for Penny and the girls, she was always so supportive of my music." Loren signals Mel to come.
"Can you take Eddie and Katie to the office where he can fill out the forms to register his daughters to attend this school."
Mel smiles narrowing her eyes. "I thought there was a very long waiting list, and all of the classes are full."
Loren can tell Mel isn't very happy with her choice. "I made room so please take them to the office and ask Becky to help them fill out the forms on the tablet."
Mel rolls her eyes looking towards Eddie. "Please follow me."
He trails behind Mel and Katie turns towards Loren. "Thank you for everything, my granddaughters will enjoy this so much."
"I'm happy to do it Katie." Loren adds.
Katie hesitates for a few seconds but she can't stay quiet. "Loren he's never stopped loving you."
"Really? Is that why he married Penny." Loren's voice cracks.
"It was Jake's fault.." Katie spills the truth.
"Jake!? What do you mean his fault?" Loren is shocked.
Katie bites her lower lip. "I'm sorry I should have never said anything."
"How is Jake involved?" Loren insists.
Katie turns around to make sure Eddie isn't around, then she turns her attention towards Loren once more.
"He told Eddie to break it off with you, and made sure to tell him if he really loved you, he'd do it, so you could concentrate on your growing career."
"What! Why? Omg! Katie I would have never allowed that! Why didn't Eddie tell me? I would have never put my career ahead of him, I love him Katie, I've never stopped caring for him." She admits.
"He didn't want to be the cause of your career failing, Jake made sure he knew that, and Eddie agreed because he's always loved you Loren, and Jake knew that and took advantage of it." Katie adds.
Loren is trying so hard to hold back the tears. "Had I known I would have dropped Jake; how dare he mess with my life." Loren's can't hold them back anymore and her eyes fill with tears. "But Eddie got over me real fast, he married Penny."
"Penny knew he loved you Loren, she saw how much he was hurting without you in his life, and she was a great friend to Eddie, he was miserable, and Penny knew all along that you were the love of his life, and married him anyway, when she got pregnant she was told she had heart issues and even though she knew a pregnancy would probably make her health issues worse, she carried the girls close to full term and left us two precious girls we love so much."
"I am glad Eddie has them and they're beautiful Katie, and I am so glad I walked away from Jake, he was so demanding, but he had no right to decide what was right or wrong for my life, how could he take my happiness away." Loren says with so much sadness in her voice.
"Why did you drop Jake? You aren't performing anymore?" Katie asks.
"I'm done with tours and concerts, I still record and write songs, I may do a small show here and there, Jake wanted me to continue to travel, once my contract expired I walked away."
"I am sure he wasn't happy about it?"
"I didn't care Katie, I didn't have a life, I'm approaching my late 20's and I want a family, I want to be happy again." Loren begins to cry.
Katie consoles her. "You'll be happy again Loren, I know you will."
Eddie and the girls make their way towards Loren and Katie, Loren hears the girls calling her and she quickly wipes the tears away from her cheeks.
Lyla notices. "Are you ok Loren?"
Loren smiles. "Yes, I'll be right back." Loren excuses herself and heads towards the restroom.
Eddie watches her walk away and he turns towards Katie. "Is Loren ok?"
Katie can't tell him the truth. "She's overwhelmed with so much on her plate today."
Eddie can't hold it in anymore. "Mom, she's more beautiful than the last time I saw her, she hasn't changed, she's the same sweet kind Loren I've always loved, I want to hold her and tell her how much I love her."
"I know honey, but, you have to give this some time, you can waltz in here and expect Loren to jump into your arms."
"Time? How much longer? Mom I've been a widow for over 5 years, I will never stop loving her."
A few hours later, everyone has left the school, Loren has changed into a dress and refreshes her make-up.
"Tony will be here shortly." Mel adds as they head towards the main door.
"I know; I am in no mood to go anywhere today."
"You're having dinner with Tony, you need this Loren."
"Really? You really think this dinner will help me feel better? I just can't…"
The door opens. "Hey beautiful…are you ready?" Tony walks towards Loren placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"Yes, I think I am." She responds not quite sure how she feels, she was enjoying the time she and Tony were spending together, he too was in the music business, and now Eddie was all she could think of.
"Are you hungry Babe? Earth to Loren." Tony is trying to get her attention.
"Oh..sorry…yes of course I am… I'm starving." She quietly responds.
They leave and Mel heads home. "Hi Nora, you're never going to believe who showed up at the school?"
Nora smiles. "You don't sound too happy, who was it?"
"It was Eddie, with his two little girls, and did you know Penny passed away?"
"Yes I knew it, I just didn't want to share with anyone, especially with Loren, she's been hurting for so long, and then she started dating Tony, I saw a glimpse of happiness and I don't want to see my girl sad anymore, I want her to finally be happy and I think Tony is doing that very well."
The door suddenly opens and Loren walks in, Nora turns and she sees her daughter walking towards her in tears. "Mom, I can't do this.." She's sobbing and leans on Nora.
"What happened sweetie? Weren't you on a date with Tony?" Nora asks as Mel looks on.
"I did, and I couldn't even hold a conversation with him, all I could think about was Eddie."
Mel sighs heavily. "I knew it the moment I saw him today; I knew it would affect you."
Nora tries to console her daughter. "Loren I'm sorry you're hurting honey but everything will be okay."
Loren continues. "I could tell Eddie was hurting too, he was at the school with Katie, he didn't say much, and Katie tells me Jake meddled in my life, he made Eddie break up with me, why? I was so happy."
Nora holds her and listens to her cry and vent. "He has twin daughters, and they're so beautiful, they look so much like Eddie and they were supposed to be our girls, his and mine, this isn't fair at all."
Loren continues to cry; Mel prepares a cup of tea for Loren. "Here Lo, this will help you feel better.
A few hours later, Loren has finally fallen asleep. "I've never seen her this bad." Nora says with so much sadness.
"I knew seeing Eddie and his daughters today would affect her, she was smiling and calm but I knew deep down she was dying." Mel adds.
"What are we going to do? I know Tony cares for her…" Nora says.
Mel interrupts her. "He does, but her heart belongs to Eddie, look at her just now, she's a total mess."
Meanwhile…..
Eddie is upset as well, he's talking to Max. "I can't do this Pops, I saw her today and I almost lost it, I love her so much it hurts."
"Then talk to her, because I am sure she feels the same way."
"What if she doesn't? She had a date today, some Tony guy, Mel said it loud enough for me to hear, what if their relationship is serious?"
Katie walks into the room. "Eddie, she loves you too honey, she was hurting, and I told her what Jake did."
"Mom! What if he does something?"
"No, she dropped him a while ago she's committed to this school, she wants to inspire young ones to pursue music."
Eddie is pacing the floor. "I can't do this; I need Loren back in my life."
"Then listen to your father, talk to her, that's the only way you'll know, you're free to pursue Loren."
"Did you forget she's dating?" Eddie is quick to say.
"The Loren I saw today isn't committed to whomever she's dating, oh and the girls are ready for bed honey."
"Do you want me to put them to bed?" Max asks.
"No Pops, I'll do it." Eddie heads to their room.
When he arrives at their room, both girls are singing to one of Loren's songs that's playing in their iPad.
"Wow you girls know the lyrics to that song already?" Eddie asks with a small smile.
"Yes daddy, and we can dance like Loren does on stage." Lyla responds as she dances to the song and Lisa holds the mic and continues singing.
"You girls really like Loren don't you?" He asks with a smile, they make his life better.
Their eyes light up. "Yes! I want to be just like Loren, beautiful and sing a lot."
Lisa walks up to Eddie. "Daddy we want you to marry Loren, we want a mommy and we pick her."
Eddie smiles. "Really, just like that marry Loren?"
Lyla agrees. "Yes daddy, please marry her."
He smiles even more. "OK well right now it's time for bed, we can talk more about this tomorrow."
The following day…
Eddie drops the girls off at school., he sees Mel and asks about Loren. "Where is Loren? Is she ok?"
"No she's not, she's not feeling well this morning."
"What's wrong?" He asks.
Mel looks at him, pulling him to the side. "Like you don't know Eddie Duran?"
"Ugh..i know it's my fault!"
"The day you broke up with Loren, she's never been the same girl, how dare you listen to Jake? Why didn't you talk to her about it first? You broke her heart, then she came back to talk to you and you had just gotten married, I can tell you really loved her by marrying Penny! And it had to be Penny of all people."
"Mel you wouldn't understand what I was going through."
"Try me Eddie, like I said you could have mentioned it to Loren, I know for sure she would have chosen you, my girl was crazy about you, you inspired her Eddie, have you noticed her latest album was all about you? Listen to the lyrics for once."
"I didn't plan on hurting Loren when I married Penny, I wasn't planning on moving on, Penny knew how I felt, she still went ahead and married me, I felt terrible most of the time, until we had the girls, I knew I could be happy for once, and don't get me wrong, I love my daughters, but I never stopped loving Loren." He stops and locks eyes with Mel.
"I still love her Mel, when I saw her the other day it took so much out of me not to hold her and tell her how much I love and need her."
Becky interrupts Melissa. "The party planner is here for this weekend's Gala, since Loren isn't here can she talk to you?"
"She definitely can." She turns her attention towards Eddie once more. "I have to go Eddie, can you do me a favor and ask Katie to be here by noon, she's going to help Nora with the Gala's dinner menu, I don't have time to call her."
Eddie nods and as he makes his way out of the building, he sees Nora making her way towards the entrance.
He smiles. "Hey Nora.."
She smiles. "Hi Eddie, I see you joined the school."
"My daughters love anything to do with Loren and her music."
"That's great, listen I have to go and help with this weekend's dinner menu, I just called Katie and she's on her way."
"What is the Gala about?"
"It's Loren's way of thanking everyone for making this school so successful, and the dinner is a thank you for everyone that attends here, there will be dinner and some dancing."
Eddie smiles. "I'm looking forward to it, it's good to see you again Nora."
"Same here Eddie."
The weekend arrives, Loren's make-up and hair are done, one of the stylist brings in her dress, it's red long dress, made from chiffon and organza, Loren puts it on and it flows hugging her curves perfectly, she walks towards the mirror and smiles, it fits as perfect as she thought it would, her hair up and the tiny curls flow beautifully around her face.
"Yikes Loren! Are you sure you want to wear that?" Mel asks.
Loren furrows her eyes. "Why? What's wrong with it? Too tight?"
"No girl.." Mel giggles. "You look too darn beautiful and sexy; no one will be able to keep their eyes off of you."
Loren bites her lower lip. "Well according to Nina I have to look the part, I told her I wanted a light pink or peach dress, and she insisted I wear this one."
"You're still everyone's favorite and most beloved music artist, even though you don't perform as much, everyone still loves you Lo."
Loren sighs. "And I love them all." She looks at herself using the huge mirror on the wall, she turns from one side to the other.
"Ugh my butt looks bigger!" Loren complains.
"You look beautiful sweetie; don't worry about your butt, it's perfect." Nora says as she walks into the room and hugs her daughter.
"Loren the dinner starts in 20 minutes; Becky says you'll be thanking everyone with a quick introduction."
Loren checks her iPad, making sure everything she's going to say is in order, the door opens and Eddie walks in.
"Loren can we talk?" He asks then stops when he sees her. "Wow, you're more beautiful today than I can remember."
"Thanks Eddie." She responds.
He looks at Nora and Mel. "Can I have a few minutes with Loren?"
Nora and Mel leave the room, Nora heads towards the kitchen to make sure everything is in order. Mel takes a few steps away when she hears Tony calling her.
"Mel…can you come here?" He asks.
Mel smiles. "Sure, what do you need?"
He takes a small box out of the pocket of the suit he's wearing. "What do you think?"
Mel's eyes widen. "You're proposing?"
Chapter ends here, yes I know, I did it again, left you wondering, what will happen next? Please please kindly review! And remember stay home, stay safe and stay healthy! Hugs!
