The promise Hollywood Heights
Learn to love Chapter 10
Eddie finds Alex asleep next to Loren, she's fallen asleep with the book still opened on the page she was reading.
Nora notices Eddie just standing there. "What's wrong?"
He opens the door; Nora gets the full view. "She's drowsy with the meds, she fell asleep."
"She should be resting." Eddie whispers.
Nora smiles. "She loves Alex; she's not going to disappoint him."
"That should be our son; she'd be an amazing mom."
Nora puts her hand on his shoulder. "Don't torture yourself, things happen for a reason."
"This isn't fair at all, we were going to get married, I had to leave that night, I send a note; it's so unfair!"
"She never got it, we waited, your aunt Lorie took advantage of that, I'm sure she knew you'd left Eddie, after she threatened us, we had no choice, we left."
He turns towards Nora, his words broken. "You could have gone to Jake, you disappeared, I should have hired a private eye to find you."
"I'm sorry, I was worried, Lorie scared me, thought she'd hurt Loren, she's a very angry woman, she wanted us out that day, give Loren time."
"Time for what Nora? She's engaged to Cam; she's going to marry him."
Nora hugs him, she wraps her arms around him, and looks into his eyes. "I know she loves you, she always has."
He downcast his look. "She has a funny way of showing it."
"I know she'll come to her senses, be patient."
He let out a huge sigh. "I'm trying Nora, give her this bouquet, let me take Alex home so she can rest, anything she needs, let me know."
He quietly walks towards Loren's bed and tries to pry Alex out of her arms. She moves and wakes up. It took her several seconds to realize where she's at. "Did I fall asleep?"
Eddie smiles, she's beautiful. "Yes, I'll take Alex home, thank you for tending to him; I know your leg must be very sore."
"It's ok, I don't mind, you can bring him tomorrow, I'll need this week to rest my leg, but I should be ok."
He locks eyes with Loren, she looks deep into those dark brown eyes, he's very close. Alex wakes up bringing them back to reality. "Daddy, I'm with Loren, why are you taking me away from her?"
"You've been here long enough, Loren needs to rest, you'll come back tomorrow."
Alex turns towards her. "I want to stay with Loren."
She smiles; it makes her happy to hear Alex say he wants to stay with her. "Aww sweetie, you're coming back tomorrow, and all week ok?"
He looks at her. "You promise Loren?"
She sighs. "Of course, we keep our promises, remember?"
"I do remember." Alex says.
"See you tomorrow." Loren assures him.
Alex looks at Eddie. "Daddy put me down, I want to give Loren a kiss and hug."
Eddie smiles, it's funny, he envies his son, he'd love to hug and kiss Loren. "Sure go ahead, I'll wait outside." He turns to Loren. "Thanks." He winks.
She blushes; he still has that effect on her. "You're welcome."
"I see you still do that." He tells her.
"Do what?" Loren asks, not sure what he means.
"You still blush?"
She can't even look at him; the butterflies begin to soar once more.
Alex runs to hug Loren. "I'll be back tomorrow." He looks directly into her eyes; and gives her a huge kiss on her cheek. "Bye." She returns the kiss and hug.
She waves to him. "Bye Alex, see you tomorrow.
They leave, and Nora walks into the room. "I see that the two Duran men are in love with you huh?" Nora smirks.
Loren rolls her eyes. "Please mom."
"Don't you please me young lady, Eddie loves you, and his son loves you too, you have huge choice to make."
"My choices have been made." Loren retorts.
Nora sits by her side. "The reason you're not with Eddie is Lorie's fault, I bet she destroyed your phone so you couldn't talk to him."
Loren gets up with the help of her cane.
"Mom, I get it, but it's in the past, I'm going to marry Cam, and that's it."
She walks out of her room and Nora follows her.
"You're going to marry a man you don't love? Do you realize what you're doing?"
"I'm doing what's right mom, Eddie and I weren't meant to be, he made a promise he couldn't keep, he got married, has a son, he made his choice, now I've made mine."
Nora throws her hands up in the air. "You know what? You're going to be very unhappy, you don't see it now Loren, you're not ruining your life, you're also ruining Cam's, this isn't fair to him either."
"I'll learn to love him; it will come with time."
Mel walks in, and hears the conversation between the two, she knows Nora is right, Loren doesn't love Cam, she's going with the motions, the moment Eddie walked back into her life, she knows Loren still loves him.
Nora's upset. "You know what, I give up, dinners on the stove, I'm going for a walk."
Nora walks out slamming the door behind her, Mel looks at Loren. "You better sit, I'll serve us dinner."
Tears stream down Loren's cheeks. "I'm not hungry."
"You have to eat, come on, your mom's upset, she'll be okay."
"She right Mel, my hands are tied." Loren's crying.
Mel offers her a tissue. "Right about what?"
"I' love Eddie so much it hurts, I wish I could tell him, this isn't as easy as mom makes it sound."
"Why, I'm sure Cam would understand."
Mel knows there's more to this. "Please tell me Loren, I'm here for you."
Loren makes eye contact with Mel. "Promise me you won't say a word?"
"I promise, you're beginning to scare me, what is it?"
Mel moves closer to Loren. "A week after I started dating Cam, his sister Nancy came to see me at school, she told me Cam has a heart condition, she said he's been in love with me since day 1, but, he never said anything because he knew I was with Eddie, when he heard Eddie was out of the picture, he asked me out, I never imagined Eddie would be back in my life."
Mel holds her friend's hand. "Ok and?"
Loren looks at her, her eyes full of tears. "She made me promise not to hurt Cam, if I break up with him it could affect his heart, he could die, I told her I would never do that, now you see why I have to marry him."
"This isn't fair to you."
"I promised her, you know how much that word means to me."
Mel sits quietly, trying to understand this whole mess. "You're sacrificing your future and your happiness for Cam."
"If anything happens to him because of something I did, I could never forgive myself."
Mel hugs her best friend. "I'm sorry Loren."
Alex was on time every day; he loves learning; he loves Loren his teacher. It's Friday and Loren is able to walk a bit better, Alex is still there when Cam arrives with take out!
Alex doesn't like Cam. "Why is he here?"
"He's my boyfriend."
Alex furrows his eyebrows. "Your boyfriend, no, I don't like him."
He's too cute and speaks his mind. "I want you to marry my daddy."
Loren almost spills her water. (cough cough) "You can't say."
"I will say it Loren, I don't have a mommy and I want you to be my mommy."
Loren's heart skips a beat. "You're too sweet, I have a boyfriend."
Alex frowns, crossing his arms. "I'm not happy about that."
Cam finishes serving the food on each plate. "Loren its ready, time to eat."
She smiles, and holds Alex's hand. "Do you want to eat with us?"
He holds her hand and they walk into the dining room area. "Alex will be joining us."
Cam smiles. "Sure, sit Alex, I'll serve you, come and see what you'd like to eat."
Alex stands on his toes to see. "Is this Chinese food?"
"Yes, what would you like?" Cam asks.
"I only like egg rolls." He sits next to Loren, Cam smiles. "May I sit by Loren?"
Alex looks at him. "No, I'm sitting here, you sit there."
Cam shrugs his shoulders and does as told, they're enjoying their food and Nora walks in. "It smells delicious, what are you eating?"
"Join us mom, Cam brought Chinese, there's plenty." Loren tells her.
Nora places the bags of groceries down and after washing her hands, gets a plate.
"There is a lot to choose from, I'm starving, thank you Cam."
Alex finishes his egg roll and walks towards Cam. "I want Loren to marry my dad." He demands.
Cam almost chokes, trying to swallow his food. "But, she's going to marry me."
"I need a mommy and I want Loren."
Loren looks at her mom; Cam tries not to laugh. "Alex I can't." Loren tries to speak.
Nora down cast her look, even little Alex knows who Loren belongs with.
Linda arrives. "Come little guy, time to go home."
"Where's my daddy?"
"He's busy, he's in a meeting with Jake."
Alex isn't very pleased. He gives Loren a kiss and whispers in her ear. "I still want you to marry my daddy ok?"
Loren smiles, Alex leaves with Aunt Linda. Cam turns towards Loren. "He's pretty persistent isn't he?"
"He's a great little guy, he misses his mom Cam." Loren tells him.
"He can find her elsewhere because you Loren Tate will be my wife very soon."
He leans in to kiss her, Loren feels bad, her heart isn't in this relationship at all; she can't hurt Cam, how will she get out of this predicament?
Jake tells Eddie he'll be touring the East coast in a month, he has to get ready to leave; he'll be out of the area for 3 months. He wants to bring Alex with him, 3 months will be too long to be without his son, he remembers how much his parents loved taking him with them when they toured.
When he gets home his Aunt Linda is still up, she was reading to Alex.
"Is he asleep?" Eddie ask.
Linda smiles. "He wanted Loren to come and read to him, I think he is, you better go and kiss him goodnight."
"I will, I have to prepare to tour the East coast for 3 months."
"Are you taking Alex with you?
Eddie looks at his aunt. "Yes, I can't tour without my son, my parents never left me behind, the night they died, my mom didn't want to leave without me, maybe if she had stayed and waited for me to get better she'd be alive today."
Linda hugs him. "You can't blame yourself."
"I know, but I want Alex with me, he's growing too fast."
Linda furrows her eyes and looks him. "Are you asking Loren to come along? After all she's his tutor, Nora did travel with your parents."
Eddie lets out a huge sigh. "I need her to come, I need her with Alex, I'll ask her on Monday."
"He's getting very attached to Loren, you know that right?"
Eddie smiles. "I know, I'll ask her Monday, let me go and kiss my son goodnight."
He walks away, Linda worries, what will Loren say? Will she go with Eddie while he tours?
What do all you think? Will she?