Chapter 14: A Tale of Two Fathers
The next day, Lois woke up to find Jason in bed with her. Sitting up, she found Richard standing in front of the full-length mirror, fixing his tie.
"He couldn't sleep," he explained, referring to Jason's presence in their room. "He woke up in the middle of the night and didn't find me here with you. I woke up and saw him standing by my bed in the guestroom, crying. He asked why I wasn't sleeping in the same room as you."
Lois wasn't expecting her morning to be this much of a jumble. "What did you tell him?"
"I didn't say anything. So he went on to ask if Superman really was your boyfriend and if you love him more than you love me. I didn't know how to answer that one either, so I just hugged him and waited until he fell asleep, and then I carried him here. I figured both of you could use each other's company."
"Richard..." Lois was not able to say anything else as Richard carried his briefcase out of the room and Lois heard the sound of a car leaving the driveway soon after.
-oOo-
Richard sat in his office, contemplating the events that have happened in the past months. His confrontation with Superman and the discovery of his identity, the friendship he had formed with Clark Kent, and his fall out with Lois. Things weren't going to get any better unless someone sacrifices. And as he looked out of his office and watched Clark Kent playing with Jason, he knew it would be him who'd be bowing out.
"Clark?" Richard called out to his colleague.
Clark sensed the urgency in Richard's voice and immediately went to him, leaving Jason with Lois and promising to come back and play with him again later.
"Yes?" Clark inquired as he closed the door to Richard's office.
"We need to talk—"
But Clark wasn't listening to Richard. He cocked his head to the side, hearing the faint rumble of an earthquake in the Middle East. "Sure, we'll talk, Richard. Let's meet at my place after work. Right now, I have to go." Without waiting for Richard's approval, Clark sped out of the office and entered the empty elevator, changing into his red-and-blue suit before taking off and zooming to the location of the earthquake that was threatening the lives of thousands of people.
-oOo-
His watch read 10:15 PM. If my math is correct, I've been standing in front of Clark's door for two freakin' hours and forty-five minutes! Richard thought to himself. His patience was waning, and his legs were stiff from standing too long.
Soon after Clark left him in his office, Richard heard about the earthquake in Israel, and watched as Superman flew in to rescue as many people as he could. That happened at 4 PM. That was more than six hours ago, and Clark was still not back. Just when Richard had thought about leaving his post, the elevator opened with a ding and out came Clark, shuffling to his apartment door.
Clark looked tired and fatigued, but he gave Richard an apologetic smile nevertheless. "Sorry, it took longer than expected," he mumbled as he fished out his keys and opened the door, letting Richard in before he entered.
Richard had seen just how worn-out and weakened Superman was, and felt sorry for him. The world would sleep safer tonight, after Superman's rescues and saves, but it was at the expense of the hero's well-being. As if reading his thoughts, Clark waved a hand in the air. "Just another day at work," Clark said with a grin as he used his sleeve to wipe off the mud and dirt on his cheek.
Excusing himself, Clark went to his room and took a quick shower, then changed into a clean blue shirt and jeans. He left his thick-framed glasses by the bedside table before going out of his room. He went past the living room where Richard was sitting, and headed for the kitchen. "Would you like something to eat or drink, Richard?" he asked, the timbre of his voice deeper than the one he normally used at work.
"I'd welcome a beer," Richard said automatically, then paused. Does Superman drink beer? He asked himself. Probably not. He added quickly, "But if you don't have any, water's fine."
Clark returned to the living room with two bottles of beer, handing one to Richard while taking a gulp from the other one. Richard had to raise an eyebrow, watching as Clark drank half the bottle in one gulp. Clark noticed the disbelief etched on the other man's face.
"I went to high school and college, Richard," said Clark. "I've had beer before. It's nothing new. Besides, I'm rather tolerant to alcohol."
Richard laughed. "Right. Of course." He took a gulp from his bottle.
Clark set his empty bottle down and looked at Richard. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
Richard knew it was going to come to this. He had readied himself for the coming conversation since early this morning. "Lois and Jason," he said flatly.
Clark nodded.
"Do you love them, Clark?"
"More than you know. They're my life."
Richard seemed satisfied with his answer. He finished his beer. "Good, because I'm leaving them in your hands."
Clark shook his head in disbelief. "Richard, what are you talking about?"
"Clark, I've been living a lie for God knows how many years now. I've tried to believe that Lois still loves me—or if she ever did, that Jason sees me as his greatest hero. But that's not true now, is it? Lois wants you—not Superman, but Clark. And when you tell her who you really are, she'll be very angry with you. But she loves you, and she'll be able to forgive you—eventually. As for Jason, what kid would not want to have Superman for a dad? I guess what I'm trying to say is...you win, Clark. They're yours. I'm out."
Silence filled the room. Clark had picked up the sound of a lady's cries and stiffened, not wanting to leave Richard in the middle of a very important conversation, but at the same time not wanting to ignore the woman's cries. He felt relief wash over him when he heard the sound of a siren going towards the direction of the woman's screams. He focused himself on Richard and what he had just said.
"Richard," he uttered. "I don't know what to tell you."
"Just tell me you'll take care of them."
Clark swallowed the lump in his throat as he looked at the man sitting across from him. His respect for Richard grew greater. "I'm sorry, I really am. You're a good man and a good friend. You don't deserve to pay for the mistakes I made six years ago. I know this isn't easy for you, giving up your family. Your son."
"Well, you managed to get through everyday watching Jason call me 'Daddy,' I figured I'd get through the day hearing him call you that. You've watched Jason running to me and giving me a hug, I can watch him running to you and giving you a hug. Just promise me you'll let me see him once in a while?"
"He's your son. You're free to see him every time you want to. I promise that."
Richard gave him a grateful smile, which Clark returned.
"You know, I think I fell in love with Jason first before I fell for Lois. When I first saw him wrapped in a blue blanket at the neonatal ICU, my heart skipped a beat. He was so small but so beautiful. I've always wanted to be a father, and at that moment, I knew I was being given a chance to be one. I think, looking back at the past, Jason was the reason why I proposed to Lois in the first place. I mean, I loved Lois, but it was my love for Jason that gave me the strength to ask Lois to marry me. He's an amazing kid, Clark. You should be proud of him."
"I am." Clark said with finality.
Richard stood up and began to leave. Before he stepped out of the apartment, he turned to Clark. "When do you plan on telling her? About Clark and Superman, I mean."
Clark stopped in his tracks. He just stared at Richard, not knowing what to say. "I'm trying to find the right time to tell her, but there's no right time, is there?"
Richard shook his head. "No, there's no right time. You need to tell her, Clark—she deserves to know everything. You can't have a relationship based on lies and secrets, you know that."
Clark bowed his head and didn't say anything, prompting Richard to leave him alone with his thoughts.
-oOo-
"Lois?" Richard called out to the house when he arrived. It was already past midnight, but he thought he heard scuffling of feet along the carpeted hallway upstairs.
"Daddy!" Jason came bounding down the stairs in his Superman pajamas, Lois following him close behind. Jason threw himself into Richard's waiting arms as the man scooped him up and gave him a warm hug.
"You were out pretty late," Lois commented, trying to sound as casual as possible.
"Yeah," Richard replied. "I was, uh, talking with, um...I had a talk with...with him."
Lois stared at him wide-eyed. Her eyes held a mix of anger and confusion. Knowing that she and Richard needed to talk, she took Jason from Richard's arms. "See? Daddy's here now. You can say good night and go back to bed, young man," Lois told her son. After saying good night to his mommy and daddy, Jason happily went up to his room, leaving Lois and Richard to themselves.
"Lois, please," Richard started, "listen to me first before you say anything."
Lois pursed her lips. "Fine. Go ahead."
"I'm leaving."
"Excuse me?"
"You can keep the house, keep everything. I've found an apartment in the city, closer to the Planet. I'm moving out tomorrow."
"Why are you doing this? Have you thought about Jason? This will break him, Richard!"
"Not as much as our present status is breaking him. Lois, he's six years old, but he knows that something isn't right at home. Why do you think he's closer now to Clark than to me or you? Why do you think he was walking around the house late at night checking if you and I were together in bed?"
"He was just asking for you tonight. He wanted to know why you weren't home yet and you left me in bed alone."
"Can't you see, Lois? He knows we don't get along. By continuing to stay here with you, I'd only make things more uncomfortable than they already are. I promise to still look after him, Lois. He'll always be a son to me. But us, living like this, it isn't fair to him. Nor is it fair to either one of us."
"You talked to him about this?"
"Yes, I talked to Superman about this. I asked that he take good care of you and Jason. Let him into Jason's life, Lois. He wants that. And deep in your heart, no matter how much you deny it, you know you want that as well."
Lois looked at the man before her. She thought she had lost all love for him, but standing before him, she realized she had a newfound respect and admiration for Richard. "For what it's worth, Richard, I did love you."
At her words, Richard bowed his head and said in a disheartened tone, "It didn't seem like you did when you told me you just simply put up with me for five years, played 'House' with me. Am I supposed to thank you for that, because you did me a favor staying with me and all?" When he looked up at Lois, his eyes were filled with tears.
Lois saw hurt, pain, and sadness in his eyes. She felt so guilty having said those words to him during their last argument—she was just so angry that she had let the words roll out of her mouth. She knew he didn't deserve to be treated the way he was for the last few years. "I did, Richard. I know I may not have said it or made you feel it often, but I loved you."
Richard gave her a weak smile. He walked towards her, cupped her face in his hands, and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead. He wrapped his arms around Lois and whispered, "I did love you, too, Lois. I loved you very much."
He had begun to walk to the guest bedroom when he stopped in his tracks. Something was playing on his mind, and he needed confirmation. He looked back. "Lois?"
"Richard?"
Richard held her gaze. "You're in love with Clark." He said it with a tone of certainty.
Lois stared straight into his eyes. "I'm in love with Clark."