Chapter 8

Daddy Dearest

well, that really had me at a loss for words. i was the daddy and Lex was the mommy. you've gotta admit, it's pretty unbelieveable.

still spellbound by Hayley's statement, she knocked me back to reality.

'Mr.Kent?'

I shook my senses loose.

'Did Lex tell you this?' I asked her.

predictably she wrinkled her nose.

'no, he was Daddy for a long time.' she told me. 'but I found some pictures of mommy with me in his tummy.' she made a big round motion over her stomach. 'I asked mommy and he said that it was a long time ago, when he met somebody and he just didn't understand things. but a little while ago mommy tried to hang himself in the bathroom at our house. he was crying out 'Clark' when i came in and saw him.' she was crying. 'it was really scary.'

I put my hand on her shoulder carefully.

she continued.

'there was a newspaper on the floor that i looked at once i put mommy to bed. you where there with this lady,' she took out a crumpled piece of paper and there we were, Lois and I posing for Jimmy. There were huge 'X''s all over Lois face. words like 'bitch' and 'skank were everywhere around the article.

i didn't understand one way or another. but Hayley wasn't finished.

'i talked to mommy before i came to see you Mr. Kent.' she said. 'He told me that you were my daddy. and A long time ago you loved each other and then mommy left because he was sad and was going to have me.' the tears poured from her eyes. 'mommy just didn't want to hurt you Mr. Kent! He-he- he just loved you too much.'

i pulled Hayley into my arms and held her there for a while. She was innocent and didn't understand anything. She was oblivious to the fact that her mommy had been visiting her daddy. just didn't know the whole story.

i don't know anymore than she does.

i think i need to pay a visit to Lex Luthor. Things have gotten out of hand.

As the poor confused creature sobbed in my arms i bent down and whispered in her ear, 'you can call me Daddy.'

she needed everything she could get.