I don't own any rights to Hollywood Heights storyline or characters; this is the fantasy world I created.

Keeping Secrets Chapter 18

In Sickness And In Health

"Mmhmm" I stretch my body, it feels like I'm sun bathing. The heat feels good on my back. I don't want to leave the comfort of the sun's heat on my body. Then my mind clears and I hear the rain hitting the roof of the cabin. Where is the rain coming from? The fog lifts and it all comes back to me. We're at the cabin in Big Bear, and it's raining outside. Eddie and I have been keeping secrets from one another. Where is this heat coming from? My mind continues to replay last night's events; my body jerks as I sit up. I place my hands on Eddie's body and gasp. "Eddie! Wake up, you're burning up with fever," I try to yell but my voice is hoarse and raspy. I clear my scratchy throat and shake his shoulders, "Eddie, please wake up. You have a fever, I need to get you into the tub to cool your body down," I plead but I doubt he can hear me my voice is no louder than a whisper. I jump up from our pallet in front of the fireplace pulling the blankets off his naked body; I run to the bathroom and turn on the water in the tub. I grab some towels, soak them with water, wring them out and race back to the pallet. I wrap the towels around his body then pick up the phone and dial the number to the general store down the road.

"General Store, Tom speaking."

"Tom this is Loren Dur, I mean Melissa Sanders. My husband has a very high fever, is there a doctor I can call?" I shout as loud as I can because my throat is scratchy and my voice is hoarse.

"Sure Melissa, Dr. Goldman makes house calls. She has a clinic about two miles away," he says giving me the number.

"Thanks Tom," I manage to say before ending the call and dialing the number for the doctor's office.

"Doctor Goldman's office. This is Dr. Goldman speaking."

"My name is Melissa Sanders, my husband has a high fever, I was hoping you could come take a look at him," I say trying to speak as loud as I can.

"I can't come right now; my clinic is packed with sick people who got caught by surprise with this late fall rain yesterday. How high is his fever?"

"I don't know," I look over at him and his cheeks are red. "He's very hot to the touch."

"Just write down my instructions. If you have Tylenol two tablets every four hours until his fever breaks. If you have ibuprofen give him two tablets every six hours,"

"Which one works best," I ask interrupting her.

"Whichever one you have in your medicine cabinet. Make sure he gets lots of fluids and try to get him to eat some soup or broth. . If he has a sore throat, take an old knee sock and fill it with salt, tie off the end and heat the sock; not too hot. Place the sock on his neck. If his fever doesn't break by morning or his symptoms get worse, get him to the emergency room right away," I write down her instructions.

"Thank you Dr. Goldman," I whisper.

"Honey, don't strain your voice, it sounds like you have laryngitis. It can damage your vocal cords. No talking, whispering, shouting, or alcohol. If you have to go out in this weather keep your neck covered. If you have a sore throat as well try the sock remedy. I see you're calling from the Tate family cabin. I know where that is. I will come by after I close the clinic to check on you two. If you need anything, call Tom at the general store, he makes deliveries."

"Thanks again Dr. Goldman, oops," I whisper.

Doctor Goldman chuckles, "you're welcome. I will see you around six," she says and ends the call. I look over at Eddie, he's still asleep. I walk over to him and kneel next to him touching his body. He's still hot. I call the general store and give Tom the list of supplies I need. I go get dressed and manage to slip on a pair of boxers and a t-shirt on Eddie's body. Twenty minutes later there's a knock at the door. Tom brings in the bags and puts them on the kitchen table. "Thanks Tom," I say paying him and giving a very generous tip.

"You're welcome Loren. I hope Eddie gets better. Call me if you need anything else," I blush from embarrassment; I guess Tom knew my true identity all along. I pull the ear thermometer out of one of the bags and take Eddie's temperature; it's one-hundred and two. I take two tablets from the bottle of Tylenol crush them and put it on a spoon with a little juice. I grab a bottle of water and take it to him. "Eddie please wake up, you have a fever. You need to take this medicine," I plead with him. His eyes flutter but don't open. I wrap my arm around his shoulders and lift him up as best as I can and manage to get him to take the medicine and a sip of water. I do this every four hours.

It's getting dark and Eddie is still asleep. His temperature is almost back to normal. I'm in the kitchen warming up some broth when I hear Eddie moan. I go back to the pallet in front of the fireplace.

"MmHmm. My head hurts," I whisper, I try to swallow and immediately regret it. "My throat hurts too," I whisper, "and my body aches." I moan. I'm hardly ever sick and I hate this feeling.

"Here, drink this," I tell him giving him some broth.

"Why are your whispering?" I ask her swallowing sipping the broth.

"I'm not whispering," I say.

I try to sit up more but my head hurts and my body aches; I flop back down on the pallet. I reach out and cup her cheek, "Lo, you feel warm and it sounds like you have laryngitis. We need to get you back to LA so you can see the doctor."

I shake my head no, "I don't want you going out, it's still raining and there's sleet too. Plus you've had a high fever most of the day."

"Baby, please stop talking. I don't want you to damage your vocal cords. I'm so sorry I told you to go stand out in the rain. I was being mean to you," I whisper. "I will get up and go get some supplies from the general store for your throat."

"I already got everything we need from the general store. I'll make us some tea with honey," I go to stand up but Eddie pulls me back down and wraps his arms around me.

"Stop talking," I tell her kissing the top of her head, "I will make us some tea. You go sit on the couch and wrap a blanket around you." I try to get up but I'm too weak. I have to get up. I can't allow Loren to take care of me. I need to be taking care of her. "Can you help me up please?" I ask.

"Eddie, you're too weak to get on your feet. I will make us some tea. Do you want some more broth?" I ask.

"Baby please stop talking. I mean it. Stop talking, not another word until you are seen by a doctor." I'm getting angry now. My guilt is consuming me. If her vocal cords are permanently damaged then that means the end of her singing career and I can't let that happen. I know how much she loves singing. She gave up going to Brown to pursue her music dreams and because of my selfishness her dream may end. "Please Lo, for me, stop talking."

He's right, if I ever want to sing again, I have to stop talking until I can be seen by an ENT specialist. This is going to be hard. Eddie and I still need to talk about the secrets we've been keeping. I nod my head yes.

"Thank you," I say kissing her hand. "Now please help me up, the floor is killing my back." She nods her head yes and helps me sit up, and then slowly stand. I'm a little wobbly on my feet but we manage to make it to the couch. "I will get you something for your fever and then fix you something to eat. Do you want some soup? My mom always made me chicken noodle soup when I was sick." She shakes her head no. I pull a fresh blanket out the closet and drape it over Loren then go into the kitchen and grab some medicine and a bottle of water. I take everything back to her and watch as she takes the pills and drink some water. I sit on the couch next to her and wrap my arms around her. Loren and I need to talk; so many things were left unsaid last night. Sex is not the answer to our problems. I cup her face with my hands. "I love you Lo. And I want us to work things out and move on. I don't want a divorce. Please don't file the papers."

I smile at him as tears pool in my eyes as I mouth "okay."

As promised, Doctor J. Goldman stopped by after the clinic closed. We were surprised when she recognized us. Her granddaughter is a big fan. I promised to send them tickets to our next concert along with backstage passes. Dr. Goldman also arranged for the ENT from the hospital examine Loren the next day. For the next three days, Loren and I nursed each other back to health. We were able to talk about our relationship and the mistakes we both made. Well I did all the talking. Loren had to write everything on the mini dry ease board Dr. Goldman bought that evening she came to check up on us the first time. During the day we took turns waiting on each other. And at night, Loren and I cuddle by the fire as I read Chloe's book out loud. It was fun watching her struggle with the no talking rule, especially when we were making love by the fire. She couldn't pick up the mini dry ease board and write ooohhh and awww in the middle of our mind blowing love making. I must admit, I miss hearing her voice.

Once we get back to LA, I immediately take Loren to see the ENT specialist. Her vocal cords were not damaged and there is no infection. But until the swelling is gone, she cannot talk what so ever. We burned the divorce papers the day we left the cabin in Big Bear and decided to renew our vows in that chapel in Las Vegas; this time no secrets.

A month later, Loren and I are getting dressed in our hotel suite in Las Vegas. I can tell she's worried about something. "Babe, what's wrong?" I'm starting to worry that she may regret renewing our vows. She turns and looks at me with tears in her eyes. My heart drops. "Lo we promised each other, no more secrets. Please tell me what's wrong?"

"Eddie, I've been keeping another secret and I can't renew my wedding vow without telling you first," she says and my heart stops.

"How long have you been keeping this secret?" I'm afraid of the answer.

"A week," she says dropping her eyes. Okay, I can handle this. I take a deep breath and lift her chin with my fingers so that she has no choice but to look at me.

"What's your secret?" I ask. Tears start to fall down her cheeks. I wipe them away with my thumbs.

"I'm pregnant."

The End

~jm~

Thank you for taking this journey with me. The ending was up in the air until I sat down and re-read the entire story. In the end, I am a big Leddie fan and could not break them up.I had a lot of fun writing this story and keeping you guys guessing what happens next. I really loved reading your reviews and PMs. You guys inspire me to write more stories and one-shots.