Kent Home
It's Monday night and I'm on the couching flipping through channels trying to find a suitable program to watch. There was nothing. It's too early in the fall, any new programs or episodes don't start airing until the latter part of September.
I feel this year will be a long year.
"Clark!" My mom called out to me.
She's been excited since she got home from work this afternoon. She's been in the kitchen forever now, cooking up a feast. Were we having guests or something?
Thinking that the question will get me off the couch and doing something, I get up and head towards the kitchen. The aroma coming from the room was mouth-wateringly delicious.
Just as I was going in, the doorbell rang.
I turn around to answer it.
"Hi……" my voice trailed off. Eyes wide. I go totally speechless.
I look at her and I don't quite believe what I'm seeing. She stood in front of me in a ponytail, wearing a yellow tank top with a blazer over it and jeans that accentuated her curves. An almost complete transformation to the city woman he met two months ago.
"Ahem!" I hear one of us say.
I open my mouth to answer but all that's shared between us is air.
She grins at me, like she knew something I didn't.
"Are you going to invite me in?" she asks.
"Huh?"
"Lois, you made it!" My mom pulled me slightly to the side so she could gesture our guest into the house. "Did you have a hard time finding the place?"
I was shocked. My mom knew all along and she didn't even tell me. Come to think of it. My mom planned this.
"Other than the billion stocks of corn I passed to find the place, I'd say it wasn't too bad," she replied to my mother.
I continue to stare at her not quite believing she was really here. I mean, I haven't seen her in two months, one week, three days and fourteen hours but who's counting.
"Lois," I finally accept her presence. She looks at me and all I can say was, "Hi!"
My mom looks at me oddly, probably wondering why I was acting so strange.
"Clark, sweetie, are you okay?" she asks in concerned tone.
"Ah, don't worry about it Mrs. Kent." Lois waved off. "Its code for, "Hi, Lois, it's good to see you – I'm glad you came,'" she explains, throwing me a teasing look.
I sigh. A little warning to prepare myself would've been appreciative.
"I'm just about done in the kitchen." Mom turns to me. "Call your father, dinner will be ready soon"
"Okay mom"
"Lois, why don't you join him? He could give you a brief tour of the farm"
"Oh, I'm not that much of a farm girl," insisted Lois.
I grab her hand and wasn't prepared for the feeling that passed between us. She quickly jerked it away and I give her an apologetic glance.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"
"It was nothing"
I look away sadly, it didn't feel like nothing.
"I'm gonna call my dad, I'll be back"
I walk away feeling like an idiot. I just grabbed her hand. Who does that? Oh, right, me. I just don't understand why I get easily flustered and confused around her.
I finally find my dad working behind the barn. He went back to the house while I stand by my telescope looking up in the sky. I came from up there, and I briefly wonder if I can go back.
"Hey," a soft voice spoke out.
It was Lois.
I keep my head turned away from her.
"I'd say 'Hi' but I think I've run out of those"
She chuckled, and despite myself, I chuckle too before turning to face her.
"When did you get back?"
She moves a few steps towards me until she and I shared the same window.
"Shortly after lunch," she answered. "I stopped by the Talon to say hello to your mom"
I nod. "That's why mom's been on a cooking spree since she got home!" I exclaim, solving the biggest mystery all afternoon.
She laughs. "I didn't mean to give her all that trouble. Kentucky Fried Chicken or Pizza Hut would've been fine"
"Nah," I shook my head knowingly. "My mom loves to cook, and she doesn't go all out if she didn't think it was worth it"
"Oh God – The pressure!"
"It'll be fine," I assure her, falling into easy conversation. It was better than what happened ten minutes ago.
"I got to admit though, I wasn't expecting you"
She smirks at me. "I got that impression when you opened the door"
I smile, suddenly going shy.
"My mom completely overlooked that 'letting me know' part." I smile genuinely. "Although, I'm not disappointed that you came"
She bit her lower lip, perhaps contemplating her next words.
"We should get back inside; I could smell your mom's cooking all the way out here"
That's not what I expected but I guess I was being a little too hopeful.
"Yeah," I respond softly as we walked together back to the house.
I'm more confused now than I was when she was gone.
To be continued…