The Promise Hollywood Heights
I need to know Chapter 11
It's Monday, Loren tends to her older students first, it's noon by the time she gets to Alex's home, she starts his lessons right away, it's almost 4 when she's gathering her things to leave.
"How do you feel?" Linda asks.
Loren smiles, she appreciates Linda's concern. "I'm better, thank you."
"I caught Alex trying to read on his own last night."
"Really, I'm so glad; he's doing so well, I'm very proud of him."
The door opens and Eddie walks into the living room area. "Can I talk to you?"
Linda excuses herself. Loren puts her bag down and even though it's very hard for her, she looks at him. "Yes of course, is something wrong?"
"First question, how do you feel?"
"I'm better; I can walk without the cane, thank you for asking."
"I will leave for the Eastern coast in about a month to tour the area, I want to bring Alex with me, I need you to come with us too."
Loren knew that would happen, Nora mentioned it. "How long will you be in the area?"
"About 3 months, I really need you to come with Alex."
Loren hesitates a bit. "I have a fiancé, I need to talk to him."
Eddie's uncomfortable hearing those words. "I know." He sighs. "I can send my Jet to bring him to you on weekends, I really need you to come, my son will not go without you."
"He's an adorable little boy; I don't think I could say no to him, yes of course, I'll talk to Cam."
Eddie's thrilled, but, he won 't let her see it. "Thanks, that means a lot."."
"You're welcome, I have to get going."
"Yes of course, Loren." He holds her gently by the arm; she immediately feels the chills through her body, taking her back to the days spend behind the cottage. "Loren…." She finally responds. "Sorry, yes?"
"Thanks, I know Alex will be happy."
She's afraid to look at him, afraid he'll see how much she loves him.
"No problem, I'll see you tomorrow."
She grabs her bag and leaves. Linda hears the door close and returns to the room. "What did she say?"
Eddie's smile answers her question. "I knew she would Eddie, she cares for Alex, I know she still cares for you."
"I love her, she's the love of my life."
Linda hugs her nephew. She knows he's hurting.
Loren's home; Mel and Nora are already eating. "Hey sweetie, dinner is ready."
"It smells great."
"Your mom made your favorite." Mel says.
Nora notices something is wrong. "What's wrong? Is Alex ok?"
"Yes, he's doing great, Eddie tours in a month."
Mel smiles. "Omg, are you going with him?"
"He asked me, he's taking Alex."
"That's part of the job, I use to go with Katy and Max."
"Where are you headed?" Mel wonders.
"The Eastern Coast, I'm worried about Cam."
"He knows this is your job, he'll be ok." Mel tells her.
"He's not going to be very pleased Mel, Eddie said he'll send his Jet to fly him in on weekends."
Mel laughs. "I'm sure Eddie's pleased with that arrangement."
"Don't even go there." Loren tells her.
"I don't understand why Cam wants to marry you, he knows you love Eddie."
Loren looks at Mel confused. "What do you mean?"
"He knows you dated Eddie, he knows you were going to get married, he has to know you still love him?"
"I don't know, I guess he thought it was over between Eddie and I, we've never talked about it."
Later that evening, Cam stops by to see Loren, she holds his hand. "Can we talk?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"I'm going with Eddie and Alex for 3 months to the East coast, Eddie's touring."
Cam isn't pleased. "What about us? We have a wedding to plan?"
"I can do it from there Cam; this is part of my job."
"Yeah I know, how are we going to see each other?"
"Eddie said he'll fly you in."
Cam holds her hands. "It's ok, I'll be traveling with my job, I guess I could come and see you." He leans in to kiss her, Loren tries, she's not in the mood to kiss him back.
Later that night in her room, Loren loves to be alone, her radio iPod is on, she's listening to Eddie's songs, she does every night, she falls asleep listening to his songs, it's her nightly ritual.
The next morning, she arrives at Eddie's, she finds a very happy Alex. "Why are you so happy?"
He runs to Loren. "My aunt Linda told me I'm going with daddy when he travels to sing and she said you're coming too."
"Yes I am, I'm your teacher."
"I'm already 4 Loren, I'm getting bigger right?"
She sits right next to him. "Yes you are, and very handsome."
"You're going to be my teacher forever?" Alex asks.
"Yes, for as long as you want me too."
"I want you here forever; I already told you I want you to marry my daddy."
Loren can't help but laugh. "You, young man are too funny, I already told you, I have a boyfriend."
"And I told you I don't like him."
"Alex don't make this hard for me."
Alex gives her a confused look. "It's hard?"
She smiles. "It's ok sweetie, don't worry."
Eddie walks in. "Don't worry about what?"
Alex turns towards his dad. "I told Loren I don't like her boyfriend."
Loren's eyes widen. "Come on Alex, time to start classes."
Eddie isn't about to let this go. "Hold on, Alex we're supposed to be nice."
"You always tell me to tell the truth daddy, and that's the truth."
Loren smiles, she sighs. "It's ok, come on Alex, let's get started."
"Isn't it funny how Kids always say what's on their mind?" Eddie questions.
She continues to walk with Alex. "Yes, very funny."
Late at night, Eddie sits in his studio, his favorite part of his career is writing songs.
"Hey handsome, brought you some coffee."
"Thanks Aunt Linda, I'm finishing my latest song."
"Really, when can we hear it?"
"I think I'll open with it when I tour in a few weeks."
"I think I know who inspired it."
Eddie sighs. "She inspires all of my songs."
"I know; I can tell Loren is responsible for most of the lyrics in your songs."
"Yeah she is, that's all I have left, I think this is it for tonight, good night."
He takes the stairs that leads to his room. The days turn into weeks and the day arrives when Eddie's leaving to the East Coast, the Jet is ready to go. Alex is excited and anxious; he waits for Loren too arrive.
"Loren is coming?"
"I'm sure she is, go and get your books ready, we leave as soon as Loren arrives."
Mel drives Loren to the Airport. "Don't forget to call, you know, say hello once in a while."
"I won't Mel; you call me too." Loren adds.
"Listen, when you're in New York, look for your wedding dress, they have amazing gowns at great prices."
"That's a good idea, I guess, I can."
Mel smiles. "Please don't get too excited."
They arrive and security escorts them to the area where the Duran Jet is ready. Alex sees Loren getting out of the car. "She's here."
Eddie tells one of the attendants to help Loren with her luggage. Mel hugs Loren and leaves. Loren makes her way towards the stairs that lead to the entrance of the Jet, as soon as she steps inside Alex hugs her. "I thought you weren't coming."
Loren hugs him back.
"Didn't I say I'd come?" Alex looks at her. "Yes, but, now I'm happy."
Eddie walks into the area from the back part of the Jet. "Alex chose these two chairs for you and him, I hope its ok?"
"Sure, no problem." Alex holds her hand and walks her to their seats. "We're going to sit here."
Loren sits. "Let's buckle our seatbelts."
He sits and buckles his seat belt. "You did a great job Alex."
Within minutes the Jet's on the runway and takes off. Loren reads to Alex, he later eats lunch and falls asleep, she reclines his seat and looks out the window.
Brenda the head flight attendant walks towards Loren. "If you need anything, please let me know."
"I will, thank you." Loren stays busy writing on her iPad. The thought of getting married in 6 months makes her nervous, when she returns from New York it'll be 3 months, she remembers Mel telling her to look for a wedding gown while she's in the big apple, who is she kidding, she isn't in no mood for that, she still has the dress she was going to wear the day she was supposed to marry Eddie, it's a simple dress, but, it means so much to her.
She was going to be Eddie's wife. Now she's planning a wedding to someone she cares for but doesn't love.
She thinks of her favorite song. She scrolls through her iPod and hits play. So many songs that remind her of Eddie, so many memories of their days together behind the cottage, she doesn't realize tears are streaming down her cheeks, she doesn't hear Eddie walk into the room, he sees her looking out the window and wiping her tears.
"Are you ok?"
She jumps at his touch on her arm. She tries to hide her tears but it's too late. "I'm fine."
She gets up and takes a few steps from her seat. "How can you say you're ok, I can see you're crying." Eddie says.
"I have allergies, I'll be ok."
"Stop lying." He walks closer to her. "Look at me Loren."
"I'll be fine, just overwhelmed preparing for a wedding while I'm away."
Eddie sighs. "You expect me to believe that?"
She turns to see him. "I don't expect you too."
"Your eyes betray you Loren, I know you very well, your eyes are full of love."
"Of course, I'm in love; I'm going to marry Cam."
"Really Loren? You're going through with that façade?"
Loren downcast her look, she wants to get out of that, she can't admit the truth to him, not now, not ever.
"Can you honestly say you've stopped loving me?"
She can't help but look at him. Those brown eyes say so much, she can see love in his eyes, the same look she remembers from the days at the cottage, the first time he told her he loved her, he had the same look.
Things didn't work out as expected. A promise was made, so many reasons it wasn't kept. His eyes plead for an answer.
"I need to know Loren." He searches her eyes for a response.
At that moment, her cell phone goes off.
End of chapter.