The Promise Hollywood Heights
Let's pick a date chapter 7
A few weeks later, Loren's still tutoring Alex, the weather is beautiful and there's a huge deck behind Eddie's home. Alex has his lessons in that beautiful area, the scenery is gorgeous and relaxing, she's tutoring another boy. After she's done with Alex after 1, she walks a few doors away to tutor another child, she has to stay busy, and out of sight.
It's 4 when she's finishing up. There are days she runs into Eddie while leaving the other child's home, she sees him but she doesn't acknowledge him, she's engaged to Cam, she's respecting the promise she made to him.
She's home. "Hi mom."
"Hey, you're home early."
"The lessons with Ryan are a little faster, he's older and understands what he's doing, he needs help with Math."
"Cam called he's coming over for dinner, I hope that's ok."
Loren sighs. "Yeah sure,"
Nora knows her daughter too well. "I know you're not happy, call off the wedding."
"You know I can't do that." She throws her bag on the floor.
"He's going to find out sooner or later that you don't love him."
Loren throws her hands up in the air. "It doesn't matter mom, Eddie and I weren't meant to be, if we were, things would have worked out between us."
Nora sighs, she looks at her daughter. "Lorie is to blame for all of this, she's the cause of this mess, I spoke to Linda, she told me Eddie send a note with Jake, I'm sure she intervened and never gave it to you."
"There's nothing I can do anymore; he should have looked for me."
"You lost your phone, remember? You never found it, by the looks of things I wouldn't doubt that Lorie had something to do with that too, she's the cause of your unhappiness."
Loren sits. "It's too late." Her cell phone rings. "Hello…Hi Linda."
"I need a huge favor?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Alex has a dental tomorrow at noon, I have to take my daughter to the Dr. and Eddie has meetings all day, I have no one else to call but you."
"I'll take him, please don't worry."
"You're a life saver, thank you so much."
"You're welcome, see you in the morning."
She hits the end button. "What was that about?" Nora questions.
"Linda needs me to take Alex to the dentist tomorrow."
"Is that part of your job?"
"I don't mind, plus the little guy is so cute, he's really trying so hard to learn, he wants to please Eddie."
"Eddie was the same way, I tutored him, remember? I loved traveling with Max and Katy, he was at awe every time they performed."
"I remember; I use to travel with you too." Loren adds.
"Speaking of traveling, are you going to go on tour with Eddie when he wants Alex to come along?"
Loren's quiet. "I don't know, that's never come up."
"What if he asks you too, you're expected to go."
Loren gets up to wash her hands. "I don't know; I guess I'll worry about it when the time comes."
Within the hour, they're enjoying their dinner.
Cam arrived with a bottle of wine and flowers. "This is delicious Nora; I hope Loren can cook this well."
"She's not that bad." Nora smirks.
Loren rolls her eyes and takes the last bite of her food. Mel starts to clear the table. "Does anyone want dessert?"
"I'm too full Mel, thanks." Loren says.
Cam looks at his fiancée. "Loren, can we go for a walk?"
"Go ahead you two; Mel and I will clean up."
Cam stands up and holds Loren's hand and they head out the door. "We haven't picked a date yet."
Loren feels anxious. "About what?"
"Don't be silly, we have to pick a date for our wedding."
"Oh yes, that's right, let me sleep on it and then we can talk about it some other day."
He smiles. "I love you beautiful."
Loren tries to stay excited. "Me too."
"What if I pick you up tomorrow? We can go and have dinner and pick a date?"
"I'll text you when I know what time I'll be leaving, ok?"
He holds her hand tighter, they walk towards the beach. There's a full moon again, Loren's quiet, Eddie keeps creeping back into her thoughts. Deep down she knows she'll never love anyone the way she loves him, that bothers her so much.
The following morning
Loren arrives and Alex already had his breakfast, Loren walks into the kitchen.
"Hi Alex, are you ready for class?"
"Yes, but I have to go the dentist; I don't like it."
She kneels down to his eye level. "Why not sweetie?"
"Because, I don't like having my mouth opened for too long."
"What if I sit with you, would you like that?"
"You would sit with me?" He asks.
"Of course, you know I would. I don't like the dentist either."
Alex's eyes widen. "You don't?"
"Oh no, I've never liked them."
"Do you want me to hold your hand next time you go?"
Loren smiles, she's touched by his words. "You'd do that for me?"
"Yes, I promise I would."
"Do you know how important the word promise is?"
He furrows his eyebrows; he looks intensely at Loren. "It does, why?"
"Well when I do go, I'm going to expect you to come with me, you can't forget or not want to come."
"I know Loren; I go with you." He smiles.
She hugs him softly and places a soft kiss on his cheek. "You're too cute."
Eddie walks in, he sees Loren hugging and kissing Alex. "Am I interrupting something?"
Loren gets up. "We're talking about keeping a promise." Alex adds.
Eddie lets out a huge sigh. "I see, what did you promise?"
"We both hate the dentist, she's going to hold my hand today, so I won't be afraid, when it's her turn, I said I would go with her, that's a promise."
He smiles. "That's great son, keep your promise."
"I will." He looks at Loren.
Loren blushes. "Thank you, sweetie, let's get your lessons started, I'm sure your daddy has work to do."
"Ok." He holds her hand.
"Loren." He tries to get her to look at him. "Thank you for helping with Alex's appointment today."
She slightly turns. "Sure Eddie, I'm here to help Alex, now excuse me, we have lessons to work on."
She walks away with Alex in tow, Eddie follows her until she disappears, his heart aches every time he sees her.
After a few lessons, Loren takes Alex to the dentist, he's very good and Loren holds his hand throughout the exam and cleaning.
"You did a great job brushing your teeth." The Dentist adds.
Alex smiles and looks at Loren. "See, I did a good job."
"You sure did." Loren replies.
"See the receptionist and set up his appointment for 6 months."
Loren helps Alex jump off the seat. "We will Dr. thank you, let's go Alex."
Within minutes they're headed back home. "I'm very proud of you, you did very well today."
"Thanks to you, I wish I had a mommy to help me."
Hearing him say those words breaks her heart. "I'm not your mommy, but, I'll always help you."
He gives Loren a huge smile. "Really?"
"Yes, it's a promise."
"You're very nice, my daddy always talks about you."
Loren's surprised to hear that. "Really?"
"Yes, he says you're very sweet and nice."
She drives him home. "We're here, it's time to get you inside with Aunt Linda."
Linda's already waiting. "You're a life saver Loren, thank you again."
"It's my pleasure; he's a sweet little guy."
Linda looks at Alex. "Go wash up, I'll get you a snack."
"Bye Loren, thank you, I'll see you tomorrow?"
Loren kneels to give him a hug. "Yes, I'll see you in the morning, practice your ABC's ok?"
"I will." He runs inside.
Loren grabs her bag. "See you in the morning Linda."
"Yes, and thank you again."
Loren heads to her car, Eddie's about to exit his car. She sees him and tries walking faster. "Thanks for your help today."
"You're welcome." Loren says with a shy smile.
"Can I ask you something?"
Loren stops, she avoids making eye contact. "What?"
"How long will you hate me?"
Loren's surprised with his question. "Hate you? I don't hate you Eddie."
"Then why do you treat me like this?"
"Treat you how?" she finally looks at him.
"You never want to talk to me, or look at me."
"We have nothing to talk about; I'm tutoring your son, doing my job."
"That's it? This is just a job for you?" He questions.
"What do you want me to tell you Eddie?"
"Tell me why you left, why you disappeared?"
"It's over Eddie, don't make this any harder."
"Wait why is it harder?" Eddie wants answers, he tries to look at her in the eyes.
A car pulls up. Loren turns to see Cam exiting his car and walking her way. "Hey babe!"
"Hi." He leans in to kiss her.
Loren turns towards Eddie. "Cam this is Eddie Duran; I'm tutoring his son."
Cam smiles and shakes Eddie's hand. "Nice to meet you Eddie, I'm Cameron Phillips, Loren's fiancé."
"Nice meeting you Cam and congratulations." Eddie tries to hide how much he hates hearing the word fiancée.
Cam turns towards Loren. "Let's go babe, you and I have a date, we need to pick a date."
Loren avoids looking at Eddie, she can hear his breathing change when Cam talks about their wedding date, he holds her hand and they walk away, Loren slightly glances, Eddie is still watching, she walks toward their cars hand in hand with Cam, she knows he's hurting. A tiny tear rolls down her cheek, they get into their automobiles and drive away.
Eddie walks back into his house; he leans against the door. Linda's walks into the living room. "Alex is ready to eat, will you join him?"
He doesn't answer. "Are you ok?" Linda asks.
He looks at his aunt. "I've lost her."
She hugs him; she knows he's talking about Loren; will this ever end?
End of chapter, is this it for Leddie?