Chapter 2

Lois woke up on her old bed in her new room. She looked around. Several boxes stood against the walls. She was going to unpack everything today. She grunted as she sat up, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. She heard someone walking in the hall, then her mom appeared in the doorway.

"Morning, Lo," she said cheerfully, "Your dad left for the base already, but I was thinking the three of us could go get breakfast at that cute little diner in town."

"Ok."

Ellen walked away, and a few minutes later, Lois heard Lucy's muffled whines. She stood up and started rifling through the clothing box, looking for something to wear. As she did, she recalled the previous day. Suddenly, a sharp image of piercing blue eyes appeared in her mind. The boy. Clark, was it? As she got dressed, she wondered if he got home ok.

Ellen coaxed Lucy out of bed, and 20 minutes later, they were piling into the car. They drove into town and parked in the small lot beside the diner. When they opened the door, a bell tinkled, and everyone looked at them. A waitress behind the counter smiled. She had black hair and was in her forties.

"Good morning," she said.

"Good morning," Ellen said, smiling back.

They sat down in a window seat, and the waitress came over.

"What can I get for you?" she asked, flipping open a notebook.

"Well, let's see," Ellen began, picking up one of the menus from the behind the napkin container.

Lois and Lucy followed suit. Lois read the woman's name tag and saw that her name was Martha.

"Can I have two waffles with blueberries and syrup on top?" Lucy said.

Martha nodded as she scribbled it down.

"I'll have the same, plus bacon," said Ellen.

"And how about you, honey?"

"Four pancakes with syrup, fried eggs, and bacon, please."

"Wow, she's got an appetite, huh?" Martha said to Ellen.

"Yeah. We didn't really have a proper dinner last night. We just moved here yesterday."

"I heard. My son told me. He says he met one of your girls," she said, looking at them.

Just like that, Lois's mind was flooded with the image of Clark's reserved face and bright eyes again. What a coincidence that she'd met both him and his mom one day after another. Small town, she supposed.

"I didn't meet anybody," Lucy said and looked at Lois.

Lois nodded.

"Yeah, I met him yesterday."

"That's nice, honey," said Ellen, "You're already talking to the kids here."

"Are you two enrolled in school, yet?" Martha asked.

"We're starting next week," Lucy announced.

"Well, good luck. It's a small school, but it's nice. We hope ya'll like it here. Now, if you'll forgive me for holding you up so long, I'll go give the cook your order."

Martha went back behind the counter, and Ellen smiled at the girls.

"She's really nice."

Lois, however, was distracted by thoughts of Clark.

''''''''''''''''''''''''

"Met our new neighbors in the diner this morning," Martha said as she spooned mashed potatoes into Jonathan's plate.

He and Clark looked up with interest.

"How are they?" Jonathan asked.

"Pleasant," Martha said, nodding, "The husband wasn't there, though. Probably at the base."

"Wish they'd never built the damn thing."

"I don't like it either, but they're here now, so…"

Clark passed her plate.

"Thank you, sweetheart. The mother and the two daughters, they all have red hair," she said as she tucked in.

"They gonna go to school here?"

"Yep. Starting Monday."

Clark listened as he ate. He had been thinking about Lois on and off since yesterday. No one had ever stood up for him like that before. He kept replaying the memory of her marching down the hill and pushing over Russell. She was fierce, but she had such a kind face when she talked to him. She was lovely, too, with her long red hair, oval face, and warm grey eyes…

"Clark," his father said, snapping him out of his daydream, "There are outsiders here now, so you need to be extra careful."

"I know, Dad."

"I'm serious, son. You can't slip up."

Clark sighed.

"Yeah, I know."