Clark was sitting out on the porch swing like he'd been there all evening when in truth he'd probably only arrived there a couple minutes before her.
Lois was hoping Kyle was just going to drop her off and go but no such luck.
Clark was trying to appear relaxed as he came down the steps, but she could read the concern in his eyes.
"You should keep better tabs on your wife," Kyle said. "You city folks have a way of finding yourselves problems."
And just like that he was back to being a pain in the butt.
Clark was looking at her questioningly.
"There was a little trouble with the brakes" she explained. "The truck's in the garage."
"Somebody cut the brake lines," Kyle told him helpfully.
Clark went from concerned to alarmed. "What?"
Kyle excused himself. "I'll let Lana know you'll need a ride tomorrow. It's her day off."
Lois was almost sorry he was going because she knew she and Clark were about to get into it with no company around. "Thanks for the ride."
"Yep."
As soon as he was gone, Clark said, "No brakes, really? You could have been killed."
"Not likely. That sort of thing really only happens in the movies. It was a warning more than anything."
"Which you're not heeding."
"I'm close. I can feel it in my bones."
"And this is supposed to reassure me?"
"Yes?" she said, giving him her most charming smile.
He frowned in return.
"It has something to do with the mines. It holds something Edge wants. I was on my way to check it out, but you know, car trouble."
"More like Lois Lane trouble. Well, next time, you're taking me with you. It's only a matter of time before his 'employees' are going after you rather than your transportation."
Before it had been a suggestion to tag along but now it was a demand. "Sure if you're not busy with Superman stuff, I'd love to have you tag along on the investigation. It'll be like old times."
"That's what I'm afraid of. I mean it, Lois. Don't you dare go to the mines without me. If I'm on duty, wait."
"Relax. I said you could go."
He was still tense from the way his jaw ticked. "You know the boys won't be dropped off for another forty minutes."
"Is that an invitation to go mine crawling now?"
"No, that'd raise too much suspicion sans vehicles, but it is an invitation of another kind."
He smiled as he caught onto her meaning, and she led him inside the house.
sss
Lana pulled up.
"Catch you later, babe," Lois said, kissing him goodbye.
Clark hadn't forgotten last night. "If you even get a jittery feeling, call me. I don't care what I'm in the middle of doing."
"You're sweet to worry, but they won't try anything so soon, and I'm saving my sleuthing for after dark."
He kissed her one more time at the door and then she met Lana at the car. He stood on the porch, watching them pull away. He gave a short wave.
"Clark seems nervous," Lana commented once they were on the road. "Am I that bad a driver?"
"It's nothing to do with you. He's worried about whoever cut the brake line."
"Oh, right. Kyle told me about that. Who do you think it was?"
"I have my suspicions but no proof yet. I think it has to do with a story I'm working on."
"I never knew journalism was so dangerous."
"It can be. How are things going at home with you and Kyle?"
"Better than the last time we talked but still a work-in-progress. Our problems have been going on for awhile, but I think they've gotten worse since Clark moved back."
"Oh?" They were hitting uncomfortable territory again. Was she finally admitting that she was still in love with him?
They were stuck behind a tractor, and the road was too narrow to go around it, so Lois had nowhere to escape from this awkward situation anytime soon. She was definitely feeling jittery. Dryly, she wondered if that meant she could call for 'Superman' to come to her rescue. Realistically, however, she knew she and Lana would have to get past the awkwardness and that meant having this conversation. You couldn't just ignore the people around you like you could in a city.
"He's jealous of Clark. Always has been even in high school."
She really didn't want to ask this question, but she had to know. "Does he have a reason to be?"
"No, of course not," she answered right way, perhaps a bit too quickly. "I mean maybe I shouldn't have been poking around Clark's Facebook. Kyle caught me, but it was just natural curiosity. I won't say I've never wondered what it might have been like if I'd made different choices, but everyone does that sometimes, don't they?"
"I suppose," Lois said, starting to understand Kyle's concern.
"But even if I still had feelings, I would never act on them. I'm not a homewrecker."
"Good to know."
"Oh gosh, I do sound wistful, don't I? There's not a woman alive that could tear Clark away from you. I've always admired what a healthy relationship you two have."
"It hasn't always been so healthy. We talk, sharing our fears and problems then we come up with solutions. If we didn't, we'd be in choppy waters. Maybe you need to share more with Kyle."
"Open and honest communication. That's what our marriage counselor said too. So different from how I was raised. I was taught smile and be cheery no matter what I'm feeling or going through."
"I think a lot of us were taught to mask our true feelings growing up though the smile was optional in our house."
She chuckled.
"Clark though wants to talk about everything, and he is such a great listener. He truly is my better half."
"Doesn't surprise me. He is Martha Kent's flesh and blood after all, but I think you're his better half too. He was different when he was younger, less confidant and burdened. You bring out the best in him."
The tractor finally veered off into a field, and they reached the garage sooner than expected.
"Thanks for the lift," Lois said. "I don't know what I would have done without your and Kyle's help."
"No problem. You want to go out for drinks later?"
Lois was surprised. It was not the first time she'd been invited somewhere by her. She recalled the disastrous barbecue, but inviting her alone without family in tow showed more than good will, it showed a desire to be friends. "Sounds fun."
"Say 6:00?"
"It's a plan." Not mortal enemies with Kyle and now friends with Lana. Sometimes she found the craziest things in life weren't the sci-fi events that had become a part of her regular routine, but the simple, everyday things. One might even call it a miracle.