Despite the fact that there was so much to be said, neither knew where to begin.
"Lois, I…"
"Why'd you do it? Why did you erase my memory?"
He sighed, closing his eyes. "How much do you remember?"
"Niagara Falls. You and me at the Fortress of Solitude."
"You remember everything," he said sadly.
"I never forgot!"
Her words stung deeply. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? For what? Making me forget or the fact that I remember?"
"You must realize that I did it for your protection. If someone found out that you knew about me…"
"It's a little late for that now, isn't it? Besides, this isn't just about you and me anymore. How did you think you were going to manage all this with Jason?"
"I… I don't know."
"You don't know much of anything, do you!" She grabbed the frying pan off the stove and tossed the contents onto two plates. "Sit down!"
He did as she asked. They ate in silence while Lois' fork screeched upon each contact with the plate. When she finished, she threw her fork down, her hand catching the edge of plate. It slid off the table and shattered onto the floor.
Lois reeled in her emotions, not wanting to continue until she did so. "I need some air."
"Lois…"
"Don't!"
There was a knock-knock at the door followed by a key turning in the slot.
"Good morning, Clark!" It was Ben Hubbard. Clark wanted to ask him why he had a key but thought better of it. They shook hands, just as Lois nearly toppled Ben as she sprinted out the door.
"Say, was that young lady Lois Lane? Your mother has told me all about her."
As exercising physical restraint came so naturally to him, he simply called, "mother!"
Lois had never been to a Corn Festival, but she had to admit, it was different. The laughter of the children made her long to see Jason, but she knew she needed more time before she brought him into this. Martha and Ben had graciously allowed her to join them at the festival, and she was grateful that neither one of them made any mention of Clark.
Having estranged parents, Lois felt a kind of peace with the older couple. They were unassuming and kind, and she found, despite herself, that she was enjoying the afternoon. She watched a young couple sitting underneath a large tree, the man was pulling grass from the woman's hair. Their radio, perched on a corner of their blanket, was showcasing the day's headlines, and she caught herself listening to an in-progress account of Superman saving passengers on a runaway train halfway around the world. Earlier this morning, he had uncharacteristically spoken to a reporter at the Daily Planet (uncharacteristic of course simply for the fact that it wasn't Lois Lane he spoke to) and apologized for his behavior yesterday. He was gravely sorry but refused to provide any details.
Her mind drifted to Richard. She knew she had to end it. Even if it didn't work out with Clark, things were now too broken with Richard to be fixed. What could a selfless man like Clark ever see in her? Richard was indeed a placeholder for Superman. The fact that he knew that now broke her heart. He deserved better than second best. Her decision was going to hurt Jason deeply, but it had to be done. She could no longer live a lie.
Back at the Kent farm, Clark returned from the train wreck and got to work. His mother posted a list of chores on the refrigerator for him to do whenever he passed through town. He set about fixing a hole in the barn, hovering overhead, feeling the freedom the country gave him to be himself. Next he started on the fence. Several of the posts had fallen into disrepair and he set about fixing them. He worked slowly, at human speed. Work took his mind off his troubles, especially the one by the name of Lois Lane.
He heard in the distance a car coming up the long, dirt driveway. He watched it curiously as it ditched a pothole, another item on his to-do list.
"Mr. Clark!" Jason said, jumping out of the car. The boy ran up to Clark and jumped into his arms. Shocked at his sudden appearance, he drew his son into an embrace, relishing a moment that so rarely came.
Richard stepped out of the vehicle, his eyes keeping steady on Clark. He looked him over with a cold stare, his brain reconnecting conclusions he had made before but dismissed.
"Jason, why don't you go play inside the house for a few minutes." Richard said as Jason ran away.
"You know it's amazing what a pair of glasses can do. It's so obvious now. I feel like an idiot."
"Richard, you have to believe me when I say I have no intention of pursuing Lois while you and her…"
"Oh no. Of course not. That wouldn't be very supermanly of you."
He continued bitterly. "Would you believe the thought actually occurred to me that you might be him? What fools you must take us all for."
"It's a disguise. You're not supposed to recognize me."
"Fuck you!"
"What are you doing here, Richard?"
"That's none of your business."
"This is my home."
"Your home? Is that what earth is now to you?" He reeled in his emotions, putting himself back on track as to his purpose for being in Smallville. "I need to see Lois."
"She's not here right now."
"Where can I find her?"
"I don't know," he said sheepishly. "She might have gone to the Corn Festival with my mother."
Corn Festival? Just in case he needed to be reminded that he wasn't in Metropolis anymore…
"You can wait inside for her, if you'd like. Make yourself at home."
Richard followed his advice. The house was modest compared to his standards, and held up to his stereotype of what life in rural Kansas must be like. How depressingly predictable to find out Superman grew up in a place like this. He had given Lois a beautiful home and a picture perfect life. He'd been there for her, loved her unconditionally, temper and all. Now, all that he'd worked for didn't mean a damn.
Inside the Kent home, Jason was sitting in front of the television. Richard, having looked in the refrigerator for a beer and found none, helped himself to a glass of ice water. He sat on the couch with Jason, his eyes fixated outside the window. Clark was working on repairing the fence, his movements slow and deliberate.
Richard felt his anger slowly dissipate. He stepped outside and slowly walked up to Clark. He stood there watching him a minute. "Why don't you just fix it, you know, at super speed?" Richard asked, his glass of ice water placed up to his brow. For an instant he wished he had a little Kryptonian blood in him. Clark tossed a piece of rotten wood onto the ground, ignoring his question.
"You should know, Clark, that it's over between Lois and I. That's why I'm here. I need tell her face to face, I couldn't do it over the phone."
Clark stopped working, still holding a piece of wood still in his hands. Richard's eyes began to tear up. "I want to beat the crap out of you, broken bones be damned. But I can't stay hating you. You saved my life, save others every single day. And you're Jason's father. Clark, you don't know what it was like after you left. It was several years before she opened up to me. Her heart was shattered. She felt abandoned. I helped her through that."
"I'm very grateful that she had you during that time."
"She loves you. I thought she would learn to love me that way. But I was fool with her too."
"You were there for her, and Jason. There's no way I can ever explain how important it is to me that she had you in her life."
"Jason needs you too."
"You'll always be a father to him."
Richard heard the words, knew they were from a sincere place, but felt their hollowness all the same. "Don't ever hurt her again. Promise me!"
"I promise."
Clearing his throat, he asked, "Do you need help?" Without waiting for an answer, Richard began kicking up a piece of rotten wood. He rustled it out of the ground and threw it into the pile.
As Martha, Ben and Lois returned to the farm, they stared aghast in the distance at the two men working side by side. They pulled up to the house and Jason came running down the steps.
"Mommy!" Lois picked him up in her arms.
"It's so good to see you too, sweetie."
"Um, there's someone I'd like you to meet. This is Clark's mom."
"Hello," came Jason's shy greeting.
Martha's face glowed. Her grandson. She wasn't sure if she would ever be given the chance to know him. She dropped to her knees and hugged him. Jason's lips formed the words help me as he silently pleaded with his mother to help him free from her tight grasp.
Martha grabbed his hand as they walked into the house. Clark followed them inside, sensing the conversation that was about to begin.
Richard and Lois stood before each other, knowing that this was the final time they'd ever face each other like this again. "I just came to drop off Jason, and to say goodbye.
"You will always be in my heart, Lois. But it's time I faced reality. You don't need me anymore. Clark is a good man. I hope you and Jason find the happiness with him that you both gave me."
His words were selfless, which made Lois feel all the guiltier. They embraced, and all the emotions held deep inside threatened to surface. But both held back.
"I've already spoken to Jason. If he ever needs me, if you ever do, just call me. Goodbye Lois."
"I love you, Richard. I always will. I'm sorry I hurt you."
The somber parting ended a relationship that began with fiery emotions. The man, who had stood by her for years, never questioning or doubting her, had just walked out of her life. It left a gaping hole in her heart.
Thinking now about what stood before her, she said goodbye to the life she lived for the last five years. What most women would dream of, she had just thrown away. The infinitely more complicated life with Clark Kent stood before her, and she smiled as she readied herself for the challenge.
TO BE CONTINUED