Letters
April 2014
As the weeks drew closer the Lois' due date, ideas were being thrown toward both Clark and Lois as to how and what to welcome the new baby to the world with. The suggestions were becoming irritating as everyone acted as if they knew exactly what was right and debunked any ideas that the couple had themselves. Well, not everyone. Martha Kent adored the idea the couple came up with and her support was all they needed to know that it was right.
Clark sat at his desk in the apartment and leaned back in his chair. He breathed as he stared at the blank piece of paper and idle pen. He thought back on the day. He had been walking back to the Daily Planet after making a few saves in the city when he glanced through the window of a toy store. He hadn't been able to help himself and had walked in.
It had been a bit overwhelming at first, but once inside his eyes fell on numerous items that he wanted his daughter to have—books, stuffed animals, and decorations for the nursery. He had gone down aisle after aisle and had picked up one of those recordable books. If there were ever going to be nights when he was out saving the world he would want her to know that he was still there in some form, ready to tuck her in at night and read her a story like any normal father.
He glanced down at his work bag and saw the book poking out. He smiled and picked up the pen.
Dear Callie,
You aren't here just yet, but your mother and I talk to you every day as if you are. We are anticipating the day when we can hold you in our arms and gaze at your beautiful face. It will be one of the happiest moments of my life. I can't wait to see you take your first steps and hear you say your first words. I can't wait to hear you call me "Dad" because that word is so precious to me. Every time that you say it, know that it will bring the grandest joy to my heart. I had a wonderful father and I will try to live up to everything he taught me by teaching you all the important things about life and the world around you.
There are some things that you will need to understand. You are special. You are born out of a great love and hold within you unique gifts. Your mother and I will always be there when you need us, to understand any part of you that you are unsure of. You will never be alone.
There will be times in your life that I might even be away for various reasons, but you will always be on my mind, in my heart, and I'll be watching over you. No matter how far away I am you will always be with me, never forget that. Your mother and I do important work, but I never want you to think that those jobs are more important than you are. You will come to understand what I do and why I do it. I regret any future events that will occur without my presence, but I need you to know, and will reinforce every day, how much I love you-how much we love you-and thank whatever powers are out there that your mother and I have you in our lives.
When you read this, I want you to know that our family is strong because of the love we share. Nothing will break us. Not distance, not fear, not anything that threatens us. This love will follow you every moment of your life. It will keep you safe, strong, warm, and will guide you whenever you need it. Trust me.
I'm still getting used to the thought that soon my little girl will be here, Daddy's little girl. Every moment we share will be cherished. You'll grow up before my eyes, but the image of you as a baby will most likely forever be etched in my mind. I carry your sonogram picture with me wherever I go right now and look forward to more pictures as you get older. I'm going to want to show you off to the world. Our miracle baby. A miracle that will mature and shine her own light on the world.
I love you, Callie, with all my heart. Always and forever.
Love,
Dad
In the bedroom, Lois bit the cap of her red pen as she went over the printed copy of her letter. She narrowed her eyes at a sentence and scribbled it out, circled a portion of another, and drew an arrow downward to move it to the bottom section. This was her fifth draft and she still couldn't seem to get the flow right. This was going to be the letter her daughter was going to read when she was older and with Lois being a reporter she should be better with words.
Lois sighed. She had been the same way with her wedding vows and even stated in them that she had wanted them to be perfect. It didn't mean she still wasn't going to try and attain that. Trying to prop herself up—the pillows Clark had put behind her back were in dire need to be fluffed—she pulled the laptop tray on wheels over to her and lifted the lid. The document was already open and she set to making the corrections.
When the tapping of the keyboard ceased she stared at the screen before her. She was adamant that this would be the last time she would edit it.
Biting her bottom lip, her eyes shifted to the beginning of the letter. She relaxed against the pillows and began to read.
Dear Callie,
Your dad and I came up with this idea to write you a letter from each of us before you were born. First off, the day I found out I was pregnant with you was one the most scary and exhilarating moments of my life. I'll explain why I said 'scary'. The truth is that I lost my mom when I was young (and the stories from your Aunt Lucy won't do much for me either), so when I found out I was going to have you I got nervous because I want to be the best mother for you and not mess you up. Thankfully, you're going to have a wonderful father who will whisper encouraging words to you in any time of need and your worries will just melt away, like mine have. Though, I'm told that a mother always worries. But, between you and me, your dad will most likely worry more since he can be kind of a worry wart sometimes, like he is with me. I'll work with him on that.
Now that I've been carrying you for about 8 months, I like to think that we've had time to bond and I'm anxious to meet you. I want to watch you grow and see the little pieces of me and your dad shine through you. You're going to make such an imprint on this world. Somehow, I already know that—not to put pressure on you or anything—I just know that whatever you choose to do will have an impact. Call it 'mother's intuition'.
You're special, Callie. Your name is special. Callista means "the most beautiful". Your middle name, Larella, is a combination of your father's birth mother and my mother's names. Lara means "protection" and Ella means "light". You are going to be the most beautiful protector of light.
When you arrive you will have a luscious family tree and a legacy that spans beyond the stars. You're going to be surrounded by love and light. That love will lift you higher than the clouds if you let it. It will follow you every day. Through the good, the bad, it doesn't matter.
As you grow older you will learn about the important jobs your dad and I have. We're both reporters that work for a major news source. Your dad also fights for truth, justice, and lots of other things not just through his words. We have a new role to add, though, one that is the most important, which is for us to be your parents. We always will be. No matter how far our jobs may take us on some days, we will always be Mom and will be at the forefront of our minds. We will always be thinking of you, be there when you need to talk or just a shoulder, and be fighting to make this world a better place for you to grow up in.
It's all for you, kid. Always.
All my love,
Mom
The couple sat in bed with sealed envelopes to their unborn daughter. Each had read the other's letter then promptly placed it in an envelope where the only other set of eyes that would be seeing them would be Callie's in the future.
Lois turned to her husband. "Your letter was beautiful."
He grinned as he shifted his body closer to hers. "Yours, too—even with your side comments." She hid her face with her hair and he brushed it back. He softly told her, "You're going to be a wonderful mother, Lois. I hope you do know that. No matter what experiences you had with Lucy. You've grown since then and I know you're going to be the best mother for our daughter."
She smiled as she looked up into his ocean eyes.
"See, always whispering the right words."
He titled his head as his mouth once again curved upward. "Because you inspire them."
Lois moved her arm and placed her right hand on his cheek.
"She's going to understand what you do, Clark. She'll love you even more for it. You might be the world's hero, but she's going to look at you and see her hero. You'll come back to her, us, and, I know you, you're going to make her feel like the most special girl in the world. You're going to be a great father." She leaned into his face and her lips hovered over his as she whispered, "I know it.
He smiled wide and she quickly grabbed his letter from his hand and placed it on top of hers, setting them aside on the bedside table. Clark inched even closer and his hand gravitated to it's usual spot.
"I love you both so much." He said.
"We love you, too."
Much like their letters, their night was now also sealed- with a kiss.
