Say Something Chapter 20

"I can't give you an answer right now, I'm overwhelmed, so much to process after this evening, I need time, I'm sorry, you don't deserve this, but I can't give you an answer right now."

She pecks him on the cheek and walks away. He tries to stop her to no avail. "Please wait Loren."

She runs towards the large gates, Nora is waiting for her in the car, she sits in the back seat of the car and cries, she overwhelmed, she's been through a lot today, she doesn't want to hurt Vince.

Back at the Robert's home, Eddie gets his jacket and walks towards his parents, they're on their way out too, Vince walks next to Eddie.

"Vince is devastated; I couldn't say anything to help him feel better."

Eddie acknowledges him. "You're a great friend, you were there for him."

"What do you think?"

"About what?"

"Oh c'mon Eddie, you saw what happened, Loren didn't accept his proposal, say something man, and are you happy? Sad? What?"

"Get off my back! This isn't the place to talk about this."

"When?" Kevin insists.

"What do you want from me?"

"You can fool everyone here, you can fool your parents, maybe even Loren, you can't fool me, I see it every time she's around, can you look me in the eyes and tell me I'm lying!"

"I'll see you at home; I'm spending the night at my parents."

He walks away. Kevin follows suit. He knows the truth will eventually come out.

Loren gets bouquets of Roses every other day, Vince isn't giving up, she isn't ready, she can't marry him. Lucy is back from her modeling job; Lorena tells her the news of her father. Of course she's ready to meet daddy.

"I'm a rich heiress?"

"I wanted you to know the truth about your father."

"Let me decide what I will do nana."

A few days later Lucy's at the Robert's front door. The butler walks her into family room.

"Please wait here, I'll let Mr. Roberts know you're here."

"Don't make me wait too long."

The butler rolls his eyes and walks away. A few minutes later, Dan walks into the room. "It's nice to meet you."

He walks towards her, she barely touches his hand, she refuses to hug him, she walks around the huge living room and looks through the windows. "I love that pool, are those your girls?"

"They're my daughters, your sisters."

"Ugh more sisters? I have enough with Loren, I don't need the drama."

Dan shakes his head; he remembers what he was told about Lucy.

"It's nice to meet you, I was prepared to meet you, I was told what to expect."

She looks through every single crystal on the mantle and grand piano. "These must be very expensive."

"Did you come to meet me? Did you come to see how much my home is worth?"

"I know you're rich, that's very helpful Daddy dear."

"How so?"

"You can fund my career."

"That's why you're here?"

"Well yeah, what did you think?"

He watches her prance through the room looking at every item. "Would you like something to eat?" He asks.

"Not right now, I had lunch, maybe dinner!"

Gail walks in. "Hi, I'm Gail, you must be Lucy?"

She looks at her from the top to the bottom. "Wow, you're a very pretty lady."

"Thank you, it's nice to meet you."

"Yeah me too, when can I move in?" She smirks.

Dan furrows his eye brows. "Move in?"

"You're my father, she's my step-mom."

"We can discuss that later; you can join the girls in the pool area if you want to meet them?"

"I'll come back later, I would love to see the whole house, this place is huge, does it have 50 rooms? "

"Its home and we love it."

"I would love to see them."

Gail forces a smile. "In due time Lucy."

"Nice to meet you two, I'll be back soon."

She walks out, Dan looks at his wife. "I think we will have our hands full with this one."

"I'm sorry, I wasn't impressed with her."

"I was told she's the opposite of Loren, they weren't wrong."

"Nora warned me about Lucy."

"Let's join the girls for lunch." They hold hands and head out towards the pool.

Several weeks later, Gail's Fashion Charity show is getting started. Loren's been busy getting several gowns ready, she's excited to see who will be wearing her designs, everyone will see them down on the runways. Katy walks in, Loren is unpacking her dresses.

"How many did you bring?"

"I have 10 ready, Gail loves them all."

"She's going to let you decide."

"I don't think so." Loren checks every dress.

"That's Gail department, hang the ones you like on that rack, they will be taken to the room where she picks who wears what."

"I'm so nervous, I will choose six dresses."

"Fair enough." The door opens, a delivery boy walks in with a huge bouquet of Red Roses. "Miss Tate?"

Loren sighs. "Put them there." She takes something out of her pocket and gives it to the young man.

"Vince has amazing taste." Katy touches the beautiful bright red roses.

"Yes he does." Loren places a dress on the rack. Katy notices she's not excited. "You should be honest with him and tell him you can't marry him."

"I have too, it's not fair to him."

Loren's eyes glisten with tiny tears, Katy sighs. "I think you should talk to him."

"Talk to Eddie?" Loren wonders. "I was honest with him, I kissed him remember?"

"That was a while ago, a lot has changed, I think you should try again."

"Has Eddie said something?"

Katy knows how Loren feels about her son. "No, he's been quiet."

Loren places all of the dresses on the rack, she knows she has to clear things with Vince.

Katy senses Loren needs time alone. "I'll take the dresses to the Gail's room, you stay here and breathe, I know you're nervous, it's going to be great, you'll see."

"Thanks Katy." She walks out of the room with Loren's gowns. Loren looks at the beautiful bouquet of Roses. She touches and smells them. She sighs, she walks to the full length mirror on the wall, she checks the dress she's wearing. She retouches her make-up, she has to look good that evening, she's wearing a strapless dress, it sits above her knees, her hair in layers and softly brushed.

She's startled by a voice behind her. "Hey mom."

She doesn't around. "She stepped out."

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you; I was told she was here."

"She was, are you performing?"

"My dancers are here; I'll be modeling tonight."

"Of course, are you excited?"

"I saw Dan; he's excited you're here."

"I saw him; he wants to help me with my career."

"How does it feel to have Dan Roberts as a father?"

"I don't know; it hasn't sunk in yet."

"He's owns everything music!"

"That isn't important to me, wish I had him around when I was small, I never knew my mom, miss her."

"I'm sorry you lost your mom, I don't know what I'd do without mine."

"Mothers are important in our lives, don't forget that."

"Yes they are, I'm sure you're a lot like her."

She smiles, and looks at him. "Thanks Eddie, you're very sweet."

He smiles. "What does the grand Lucy say about Dan?"

"Nana told her, I really haven't seen my sister, I've been busy with this event."

"It's amazing how different you are from Lucy."

"I've always said that." She walks towards the table where the roses sit. Eddie can't help it; he knows who they're from.

"Those are beautiful roses."

"Thanks, they're my favorite."

"He really loves you."

Loren sighs, Eddie asks. "Are you still dating?"

"No, I think you witnessed what happened."

"He asked, you walked away."

"I don't know why he doesn't get it!"

She senses Eddie is standing right behind her. "I don't think he's going to give up on you."

Loren looks him in the eyes. "What about you?"

"Me?"

She remembers the first time she kissed him. "Why do you ask? I remember you didn't like me or wanted to be anywhere near me, are you going to say something?"

"Not sure why I asked, you were very upset that evening he asked you."

"Do you think of the kiss we shared?"

He stays quiet, and Loren continues. "It's always on my mind.." Before she can finish her sentence, the door opens and Mel runs into the room. "Vince is here, there's a van unloading more Roses."

Loren sighs. "Gail wants the rooms decorated with Roses."

Mel acknowledges Eddie. "Oops, I didn't know you were in here, sorry."

Eddie smiles. "It's ok; I should be get ready."

He leaves and Mel turns towards Loren. "Told you Vince isn't giving up."

"I don't want to be think about that."

"I think he's going to ask you tonight, the staff set another bouquet to the side."

"I can't accept his proposal, I care for him, he's very sweet, but I'm not in love with him."

"You dated him for a several months, I'm sorry nothing came of it."

"I don't want to hurt him, I'm sorry I wasted his time."

Mel hugs her. "I'm sorry Loren."

Within the hour, the fashion show begins, every known artist walks down the runway wearing the gowns provided by the designers participating that night. Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Lea Michele and Hilary Duff are wearing Loren's gowns. Eddie does several walks down the runway. All of Loren's gowns have bids on them, she's ecstatic. "What does this mean Katy?"

"It means you're on your way young lady! I'm sure you'll be asked to dress some of the nominees in future award shows."

"I'm so excited, I can't believe it!"

"You have Gail to thank."

The show is a huge success, all of the gowns were bid on, the cleaning crew walks in to do their job. Mel nudges Loren.

"I told you Vince wasn't giving up."

Loren sighs, what's she going to do? "Is he here?"

"He's outside, there are several bouquets decorating the area where he's waiting for you."

"Oh my God, I can't do this right now."

"You had an amazing night; don't let this get to you."

Loren takes a deep breath; she walks towards the exit door. Mel trails behind her. Dan stops her when she reaches the door. "You did an amazing job tonight."

"Thank you Dan."

"I want to help you if you will let me."

"I've done well on my own, thank you."

"I owe you Loren, I missed many years, I want to be part of your life."

"Thanks Dan." A knot tightens in Dan's stomach. He wants to hold Loren and tell her not to worry any more, he's here to stay, he wants to be a father to her, that's all he wants.

"Vince is here to propose, if he isn't what you want, this is the time to walk away, I was given a second chance of happiness with my wife Gail, you need to do what makes you happy."

She glances at the sound of the door opening. It's Eddie, he walks through the exit door with several men carrying a few bags. He signals the guys to put them in their place, he sees Vince head towards Loren who's talking with Dan.

Vince looks at Loren. "I'm leaving at the end of the week to Europe, I have several tours, I want you with me."

She sighs, she doesn't want to hurt him. "I'm so sorry Vince, I can't marry you."

She hugs him, she heads towards the door marked exit, Eddie standing there, she wants to run, Vince was going to follow her, Dan stops him. "It's time to move on son."

Eddie knows she's hurting; he follows her through the same door she exited. He sees her walking towards her car, he runs towards her. "Loren!"

Mel stops when she sees Eddie running towards them. "It's Eddie, he's coming this way!"

"I don't care anymore, I'm done with him, let's go Mel!"

She was going to open the car door; he stops right in front of her. He runs his fingers through his thick brown hair and looks her in the eyes. "I've never forgotten that kiss."

Before she can say anything, he leans in, he pulls her closer to him and he kisses her. Mel stands there not knowing what to do.

Finally! Let me know what you think.