Chapter 2

Chloe walked into the Kent's kitchen and smiled. 'I'm glad I came home!' she thought, 'Dad was right, I should have come home sooner.'
"Can you stay for dinner Chloe?" Clark asked from behind her. Chloe jumped. She hadn't heard Clark and his parents come in. Clark has already stepped around Chloe going to the refrigerator and missed the look of panic that showed briefly on Chloe's face. She recovered quickly.
"Yeah, if it's not too much trouble. Dad's working late at the Talon going over the books." 'I've got to stop panicking when someone sneaks up behind me!' Chloe thought.
"You know it's not too much trouble." Martha said. She on the other hand, did see the look on Chloe's face. She rubbed her hand over Chloe's hair and cupped her chin, "You are part of our family." Chloe saw the look of concern in Martha's eyes.
"Does this mean she has to do chores too?" Clark asked hopefully.
"No, son, we are going to appoint her supervisor over you!" Jonathan winked at Martha and Chloe. He didn't miss the look either, but figured that Chloe would let them know what was going on when and if she wanted to. He understood secrets. Sometimes they are best left alone.
"Let's go check the livestock and get washed up for dinner Clark." Clark and Jonathan went outside. Chloe watched Martha as she started to make dinner.
"Is spaghetti ok with you Chloe? It's been a long day and it will be the simplest thing I could put together."
"Oh yum! That's fine Mrs. Kent. What can I do to help?"
Martha started to the Chloe to sit back and relax, but she sensed Chloe needed to talk about something. 'Maybe if I have her help, she'll let her guard down and tell me what's wrong. I know Gabe has been worried about her.' Martha thought.
"Why don't you chop up some veggies for a salad?"
"Okay!" Chloe said a little too brightly. She was getting nervous now that she had been here for a while. 'How can I act normal when my life has been turned inside out?' Chloe thought with some despair. 'What was I thinking?'
"Dad says you've been a big help with the Talon since he bought it from Lana and Lex. With Lana being gone for a year, and now taking all those art courses, he really appreciates your help. So do I. It's nice to see him 'be his own boss' instead of relying on some big corporation who would pull the rug from under his feet with no justification." Chloe snarked out the last part of her sentence with pure venom.
"It's been my pleasure. I've enjoyed getting out of the house. It doesn't hurt that your father is a man with scruples and integrity. Unlike one of my former employers." Martha smiled, "He's also a real fun guy to be around, as you well know. He tells some of the corniest jokes sometimes!"
"Oh, tell me about it!" Chloe rolled her eyes and smiled. "It's a real embarrassment when he does it in front of my dates!" Chloe laughed
"How's school?"
"It's okay—don't tell Clark yet, but I'm transferring to Met U in the fall."
"That's wonderful Chloe! It will be nice to have you so close to home again." Martha looked at Chloe, who had a tear running down her cheek. "What's wrong honey?"
"I—I—I" Chloe stopped and took a deep breath. "Mrs. Kent, I really need to confide in another woman—you are the only one I want to talk to about this, other than my shrink, but I don't want to impose—"
"Chloe, you're really worrying me. Is something wrong? Are you in trouble?"
"Yes, something is wrong, but I'm not in trouble. Something happened this spring at school and I'm not sure if I will ever be normal again—mentally that is."
Martha pushed a trembling Chloe into a chair and sat down herself. "What is it? What happened?"
"It all started when this boy—" Chloe proceeded to tell Martha the shortened version of what happened. When she was finished she looked Martha straight in the eyes.
"Does your father know?"
"Yes, he wanted me to come home right away, but believe it or not, I'm a little stubborn and wanted to finish the quarter."
"You've been seeing a psychiatrist?"
"Yes, on and off. To be honest, I think being home right now will help more than anything. Even with all the meteor freaks I feel safer here than anywhere else."
They heard Jonathan and Clark crossing the yard from the barn.
"I'm glad you told me Chloe. Why don't we meet at the Talon Monday for a little longer talk? Clark has finals next week and I don't think I will be able to pry him from your side after that."
"Yes! I would like that very much." Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. She would give anything for Martha Kent to be her mother.
"Chloe," Martha said as she rose from her chair, "I'm very proud of you."
Chloe blinked in complete shock. "Why?"
"You survived." Martha whispered as the Kent men stomped through the door.