The Promise Hollywood Heights
Today, Tomorrow and Always chapter 3
Loren's speechless, she looks at her mom and back to Eddie; did he just say he wants to marry her?
Nora furrows her eyes. "Eddie why the rush, you're both very young?"
"I've been alone since my parents died, all I have in my life is my aunt Linda, you and Loren, I love Loren, I'm going to start touring more cities, I need her with me."
"Is this because of aunt Lorie?" There's concern in Nora's voice.
"It's not just her, I want to tour with Loren by my side, I don't want to take her with me, I want to show my Aunt I'm serious when it comes to Loren."
"Are you trying to prove a point, not like this, give yourself some time Eddie."
"I know what I'm doing Nora, I'm old enough, I'm almost 22, Loren is almost 20, we can do this alone or with you by our side."
Nora turns towards Loren. "Honey, are you ready for this?"
Loren's eyes fill with tears. "Yes mom, I love him and I want to be with him."
She looks at Eddie for reassurance, she knows he loves Loren; Eddie walks closer to Loren.
"I'll tell the whole world, I'll love you always and I want to marry you, I promise you that I'm serious about us, you're the love of my life Loren, when I say always I mean forever and that means today tomorrow and always."
Loren's eyes tear. "I love you too Eddie, you're the love of my life."
He leans in to kiss her, she wraps her arms around his neck, their kiss deepens, she knows she'll always be safe in his arms, he promises to be there and she knows he means it.
Nora's worried, she knows Eddie means every word, she knows he loves her daughter, but she's worried, she knows the kind of woman Lorie is. She remembers Katy telling her about her older sister who never married and blamed Katy for not having a life. She's a bitter woman, now this woman is determined to ruin Eddie and Loren's life.
"When and where will you two marry? You're just starting your career Eddie; I don't think this is good publicity for you."
"No one will know, at least not yet, Jake my manager is the only one that knows, no one else, we can release the news later."
Loren's quiet and walks towards Eddie. "When will we get married?"
He looks at Loren with the sweetest smile. "You don't mind if we have a small ceremony?"
"No Eddie, as long as we're together." Their hands intertwine.
Nora smiles, deep down she's worried. Lorie is one lady who will not give up!
A few days later, Eddie meets with Jake and shares his plans.
"Eduardo you serious? You're getting married?"
"Yes I'm serious, why so shocked? I've told you I'm in love with Loren."
"I know; I don't see why you just don't wait a little longer Eduardo!"
"I'm tired of everyone telling me what I can and can't do, I'm going to marry Loren in a week, when I tour or whatever else you have planned for me, she'll be with me."
"Your fans and everyone else will figure things out when they see you together."
"I know, I'll share with everyone when the time is right, right now it stays here with you and I, that's it, any word of this leaks out Jake and we're done!"
"No worries Eduardo!" Jake knows he's serious.
Nora and Loren shop for a simple white gown to wear for her wedding to Eddie, it's going to be very small, Mel will be Loren's maid of honor."
"Are you sad mom?" Loren hugs her.
"I want you to be happy, I don't trust Eddie's aunt, the way he wants to do this won't prove anything."
"Why, you don't think Eddie and I will be able to make our marriage work?"
Nora sighs, she looks at her beautiful daughter, she's young, she knows what it's like, she was 18 when she had Loren, and a few years later she was left alone to raise a child, not that this would ever happen to Loren and Eddie, the whole mess with Lorie worries her, something deep down keeps nagging Nora; she knows that Lorie won't allow her daughter to be happy with Eddie. She can't say anything; she doesn't want Loren to start her life with Eddie worrying about Lorie, she wants to see them happy.
"Don't worry mom, Eddie made a promise, I know he will keep his word to me, he loves me, he'll never leave like Trent did."
Eddie and Loren's wedding day is here, Jake calls Eddie to meet him at the office.
Eddie isn't pleased he has to rush there. "Label wants you to do at least 4 months at the cities surrounding San Francisco, Daly City and Redwood City. Can you leave tonight?"
"What do you mean tonight?"
"You're just starting your career Eduardo, you have to be there tonight, and your jet is ready, you'll leave as soon as you get there, it's all set."
"Loren and I are supposed to get married today."
Jake stands his ground. "I'll let Loren know, you'll be back in a few days, as soon as you're settled let me know, I'll personally fly Loren to you, you have to go now, everything you need is in your Jet."
Eddie hesitates. "You're putting me in a very hard position Jake, but ok, let me call her."
He tries several times and gets her voicemail. "Babe it's Eddie, I have to fly to several northern cities in California, Jake will fly you and your mom to the area as soon as I'm settled, I'll let you know, we can get married there, let me know you got this message, I love you Loren." He turns to Jake. "I'll write her this note, make sure she gets it."
(Loren, I had to fly out tonight, the label is rushing me, I have to do this, I have no choice, I'll call Jake and he'll let you know where we can meet to get married, I love you. Eddie.)
Loren's walks into the mansion to get a suit case. She picks it up and drops her phone, she doesn't hear it drop on the carpet. She leaves unnoticed. Aunt Lorie arrives and hears a phone going off, she picks it up, when she sees it's Eddie calling, she's furious because she knows Loren was there, she drops the phone to the floor and crushes it then she throws throwing it into the garbage can, she walks back into the kitchen.
"I'll never allow this." She glares towards the cottage where Loren and Nora live.
The doorbell rings and Lorie answers the door. "Yes?"
"I'm Jake Madsen, Eddie's manager, I'm looking for Loren."
"She doesn't live here, she's in the back, I don't think she's home." Lorie's upset, why is someone's looking for Loren at the mansion?
"Can you make sure she gets this?" Jake hands her the envelope.
"Yes what is it?" She looks at it.
"Eddie's on tour, he asked me to make sure Loren gets this."
"I'll make sure she gets it." Jake doesn't notice her mean demeanor.
Loren waits for Eddie to arrive; she looks for her phone and she can't find it. "Mom, have you seen my phone?"
"No, I haven't, has Eddie called?"
Loren looks around. "No, that's why I'm looking for it; I need to find out why he's running so late."
"Remember you went to the mansion, maybe you left it there."
Loren sighs. "Let me go and check, thanks mom."
She runs there, she's about to open the door and Aunt Lorie is standing there, Loren jumps.
"Oh my god you scared me Miss Lorie, is everything ok?"
She gives Loren the nastiest look. "I guess it is, why are you here?"
"I can't find my phone, I was here earlier, I think I left it here."
"I didn't see anything, I asked you what do you do want?" She gets closer to Loren.
"I need my phone to call Eddie." Loren steps back.
She laughs. "Did you seriously think he'd marry you? He's gone, he's touring, he had to decide, he chose his career over you, he never wanted to marry you."
Loren's confused. "What are you saying? Did he tell you that?"
"Yes, he left, he's gone and so are you, get out of this property, go finish packing and get the hell out of here!"
Loren's eyes tear. "No, that's not true, he loves me, he promised, you're lying."
"Then go and wait, he's not coming Loren, he's chose his career over you."
Loren's heart broken. "You're a bad lady, he wouldn't leave, we're getting married today."
"He's not showing up Loren Tate, now get out, you have the money my stupid sister left you and your mom, why I'll never know, you have a car, use it, and leave, or I'll call the police to drag you out of here."
Loren walks towards the door. "This can't be true."
"Be out by morning!" She screams. "I swear you'll regret it if you don't."
Loren runs back to the cottage in tears, Nora notices. "Sweetie what's wrong?"
"I went to look for my phone and Lorie's there, she said Eddie left, he left mom."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes she told me, he had to leave, what about our wedding?"
"I don't understand; he didn't call?" Nora asks.
"Lorie said my phone wasn't there, she said we have until morning to get out or she'll call the police."
"I knew it, I knew she'd do something, how could Eddie just leave, why didn't he call?" Nora questions.
Loren leans on her mom crying. Mel walks in. She notices they're crying and runs to their side. "What's wrong?"
Nora looks at Mel. "Eddie left; there's no wedding, why didn't he call?"
Mel hugs her best friend. "What happened, you're getting married today."
"I don't know Mel, I'm just as confused as you are, we have to pack and leave, Lorie threatened to call the police in the morning."
Loren's sobbing. "Maybe he'll call you later." Mel tells her.
"No, he's gone, he left, he broke his promise Mel, he said he'd never leave and he did, he didn't keep his promise."
Both Mel and Nora hug her, that's all they could do for now. She's hurting, why would Eddie do this?
Mel isn't convinced. "He left, just like that?" She asks Nora.
Nora shrugs her shoulders; she's confused; and worried about Loren, who's wondering what happened with Eddie.
Now what? End of chapter!