Chapter 7 – Richard
Lois opened the door to their house with dried tears on her cheeks, her eyes and nose red and her lips swollen. Richard had been working on his laptop in the living room and when he turned around to meet her, he immediately put his computer down and ran to her.
"What happened?" He asked concerned, holding her arms.
"Where's Jason?" She asked, instead.
"Asleep. It's almost 10 o'clock."
She had no idea it was that late. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
"What's wrong, Lois?" Richard asked, now holding her close to him, the tears had begun again. "Please tell me what's wrong; I've never seen you like this. Did Clark do something…?"
"I know who Jason's father is now." She blurted out and he backed away instantly.
"What?" He looked angry, he frowned and Lois felt it was right then that she would lose him. "Wait a minute… I'm not his father?" She shook her head. "But I thought that…"
"I'm sorry."
"Lois, look at me." She wouldn't. "Look at me and tell me that Jason is my son."
She did. She looked at him, but she knew she couldn't tell him what he wanted to hear. She realized she couldn't pretend with him any longer and she had to tell him the truth. So all she could do was shake her head and let the tears flow free. "I am so sorry, Richard. At first I did think he was yours, but then…"
He shook her a little. "When did you find out he wasn't?"
No more lies. That's what Clark had said. "About a year ago." She confessed.
"But, how…? And you didn't tell me?" He questioned her, releasing her and giving a step back.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you and then his father he…"
Lois realized it had dawned on him. He knew, Richard knew who the father was. "Oh, my God. It's Clark Kent? That's what you wanted to talk with him over dinner?"
"No. I-" It certainly wasn't what she wanted to talk to Clark Kent about over dinner. She didn't even know what was thatshe would find out over dinner. And what explanation could she give Richard if she had revealed she had known about it for months now? Surely she couldn't explain that she had seen Jason lifting his bed like it was one of his toys one day. That would mean she would willingly betray Clark Kent and the secret he so fervently protected. Her mouth dried and she looked at him with tears in her red eyes.
"I am…" Richard began, but there were no words. "I'm sorry, Lois… but I-I need to leave." Now it was him storming out of the room. Without another word, he took his coat; he took his keys and slammed the door behind him.
Lois, who had once had the perfect life, now found herself… alone.
To be continued…
