"Are you okay?" Oliver said when Lois answered.
"That's a loaded question," she said, trying for levity but the misery came shining through even to her own ears.
"Was it something I did? I came home, and there was no you, no note, and the front desk at the Planet said you'd left hours ago."
"Yeah, I did. I'm in Smallville actually."
"Smallville?"
"Yeah, I have a cousin who lives here. I haven't seen her in years, so here I am."
He chuckled. "You are the most impulsive woman I've ever met. Are you sure it's nothing I did or didn't do?"
"Not at all. Believe me, this has nothing to do with you. I'll see you soon, okay?"
"Sure. Love you."
"Yeah. Bye."
Would he notice she hadn't said love you back? She hoped not. She prayed she had this figured out before Oliver even became an issue.
If there was one person who would believe her and help her, it was Chloe. On a whim, she looked up her address. Even her phone believed the lie because it came up as her childhood home as if she'd never left Smallville.
Chloe answered the door when she got there, but she didn't look thrilled to see her. "What do you want?"
"To see you. To talk to you. Do I have to have a reason?"
"You haven't talked to me in years. Now you're suddenly at my doorstep. Of course you want something. Though it couldn't be money because you have plenty of that, and as you can see, I have little."
The house did look more dilapidated than she remembered. "No, it's not money, and I'm sorry I haven't done better at keeping in touch."
"I get it. Too busy living the lifestyle of the rich and famous, getting awards for your investigative skills and writing."
She was jealous, and why wouldn't she be? She'd wanted the career she was living as a teen, and she had her husband for all intents and purposes. "It's not like that. Would you believe that this isn't reality or at least it's not my reality."
"No, don't do that. You're humoring me, at least I'd like to think you are. It would be cruel to think you're making fun of me. I don't do the Wall of Weird anymore."
She took a deep breath. She would have to try and mend her relationship with her cousin before she tried to get help from her. "Well, maybe I could just crash on your couch for awhile until I get things sorted?"
"Oh, I get it. You're having relationship troubles," she said a little smugly in Lois' opinion. The root of bitterness must have ran deep. "Why not?"
Lois followed her in where she was promptly thrown a sheet and pillow before she slammed the bedroom door shut.
"Good night to you too then," Lois said to an empty room.
sss
Lois snuck out that morning for two reasons. One, she didn't think Chloe would appreciate being woken, and two, she didn't feel she could stomach more of Chloe's resentment. Not on an empty stomach anyway.
Mrs. Kent opened the door and hugged her tight. At least someone was glad to see her in this topsy-turvy world. "I'm so happy you came."
She led her in, and in true Kent fashion, breakfast was ready at the usual hour with a decadently laid-table.
"It smells heavenly," Lois offered as she gazed at the eggs, bacon, hashbrown casserole, and freshly baked cinnamon rolls.
Clark was already at the table in his plaid pajamas. "I bet it tastes as good as you remember too. No one can beat Mom when it comes to cooking."
Martha smiled as she set down a pitcher of orange juice. "It's nice to be appreciated. Take a seat, honey. Start filling up a plate."
Lois did though she kept looking at Clark, who was filling his own plate. Finally, she could no longer restrain herself from asking, "Don't you wear glasses?"
The activity paused until he chuckled. "I know you remember me as a dork, but when did I ever wear glasses?"
It had been her suggestion for him to wear them. Was he still operating in a Blur-like fashion then in this alternate world? "Oh, um, so you do police work then?"
"Hmm-hmm. It supplements the family income during the lean years. You know how it is. Or maybe you don't being from the city."
"He's good at it. Both farming and police work." She turned her attention to Lois. "No need to ask what you've been up to. We subscribe to the Planet. We are so proud of you around here."
"Thank you." Her mouth felt dry, so she picked up her glass. How long could she keep up this pretense? Not long because Lana Lang came into the room, and she choked on the orange juice.
Clark rushed over and patted her back graciously, but she couldn't take her eyes off Lana, or more to the point, her middle. She looked to be in the very late stages of pregnancy.