A Glimpse
Chapter 8
The Prodigal Wife
"Whoa wait a minute, Lana, did you just ask me what I think I heard? Talk to me, what's going on my friend, Chloe was more concerned than before."
"It's ok Chloe; I hit my head last night on a kitchen cabinet really hard. Since then I am having occasional memory lapses and headaches. It's just a mild concussion, but don't worry, I am starting to feel better. Chloe, whatever you do, don't tell Clark, please. He worries too much."
Looking at her friend, trying to understand, she replied, "Okay, I won't say anything, but if these problems continue, I will have no choice but to tell Clark. This could be serious."
"It's not serious she replied. I just banged my head really, really hard and I am just starting to feel better now. No reason for alarm." Although Lana hated to lie, she couldn't possibly tell the truth. She was having a great deal of difficulty believing it herself. She could just imagine telling the truth, about who she really was and that this was actually just a glimpse and that Santa had given her a magic coin to wish on. Why, I would be in Belle Reeve Center tonight, probably getting electric shock and placed on heavy medication. No thanks, even though I hate lying, it beats where the truth would have me tonight.
You named the children, Laura and Jonathan.
Chloe studied her friend for a good long time, before deciding she probably was ok. Pulling out her cell phone she dialed Clark and told him that Lana was home. He super sped home and suddenly appeared in front of her.
But unknown to Chloe and Clark his sudden appearance startled her. After a few seconds she settled down and slapped him on the shoulder and said don't frighten me like that ever again.
"I am sorry sweetheart, but I have been so worried since you left and have been searching for you everywhere. When Chloe said that you were here…Well I became so excited that I super-sped all the way home. I was in Metropolis when I received the call. It seems like I am getting even faster. That took only a few seconds. It used to take me ten minutes to get back from there."
Super-sped here from Metropolis, how is that possible? I can always tell when he is lying and he is telling the truth, but how can that be possible?
Clark continued, "Sweetheart are you alright? What happened this morning? Where did you go? I knew I should have gone back into the bedroom this morning to see how you were. You had the strangest look on you face after you woke up. It was as if something just wasn't right. Whatever is wrong you can tell me my dear? Together we have come a long way and I am not going to lose you now or let anything come between us ever again! So whatever it is that wrong we can sort it out between us, ok."
"Really Clark, I am fine. I had a strange dream and was a little bit confused this morning. Nothing is wrong, believe me."
Clark had a feeling that something wasn't quite right, but after looking into her eyes a few seconds, knew that whatever was going on sooner or later she would tell him. He just needed to be patient. She never kept anything from.
"Well, since everything is ok and the prodigal wife has returned home, I think I am going to get the finishing touches on Christmas supper completed. You are all still coming tonight…Right?"
Lana smiled and answered, "We wouldn't miss it for anything. Count on us all being there!"
"It's good to hear that. Well I had better get going or we may end up eating Chinese take-out."
Smiling Lana replied, "That wouldn't be bad."
But when Chloe gave her a frown, "Lana said, I was only kidding Chloe, I always, year after year, enjoy the special meal you prepare."
As Chloe was leaving, Clark said, "Lana we better go inside, the kids are waiting for us so that they can open their gifts. We never open Christmas day gifts without everyone being there."
The kids were patiently waiting, well as patiently as you can be for ages four and one half and six years old. "Mommy they shouted where did you go?"
"Out to pick up a few gifts that I had left with a friend. I am so sorry that I didn't tell you I was going. Now, Jonathan and Laura come over here quickly and give your mother a great big hug."
"After hugging each one and giving them a big kiss on the cheek, she said, let's open presents."
With smiles on their faces the kids shouted, "Yea!"
Clark began handing out the gifts to the kids. He stood by the tree and read the name of the person who was to receive it and handed it over to them. It wasn't until after the gifts were all passed out that the kids began to open them.
The kids were happy about and enjoyed everything. They were so excited about their gifts, they didn't notice Lana asking, Clark to go out to the car and bring in the bag of special gifts that were still in the car.
Clark super-sped to the car and back, Lana was so stunned she almost couldn't speak. This has to be one of his abilities she thought to herself, but how does he do it? He and I will have to have a serious heart tonight.
Taking the bag from Clark, she reached in and pulled out the first gift. "It's for Laura." With a smile Lana handed the gift to her daughter.
Taking the gift Laura said, "Thanks mom."
Pulling out the next gift, she read the name and said, "This one is for Jonathan."
"Thanks mom," he said tearing off the wrapping paper. "Wow, he shouted, a talking Buzz Lightyear! Mom how did you know I never told anyone that I wanted it."
"Well, let this be a lesson to you young man…Your mother know everything about you and always will."
Laura had gotten the most beautiful doll one could imagine. She was elegantly dressed and came with a handbag and accessories. Laura said, "Thanks mom she is really beautiful and she talks and you can dress her for special occasions. She comes with several outfits. All of my gifts are neat, but this is the best one, Thank you mommy."
"Well now," Lana said reaching into the bag one more time, "Here is a very special gift for my very special husband (She just loved the way that it sounded, husband. Wow she thought Clark is my husband! I could get used to this in a heartbeat). He my dear is your gift, to the greatest husband in the world!"
"Well I don't know about being the greatest in the world, but I am more than happy to accept the gift."
Lana watched as he opened the gift. It was a beautiful pendant that had a picture of her on it. The picture clearly expressed her love for him, but there was an inscription on the back that said, "So I can always be close to your heart."
"This is wonderful sweetheart," Clark said turning it over. At that moment his mouth fell wide open as he noticed two symbols on the back of the locket, that said, "You will always be the love of my life!"
"Lana, Clark asked a little surprised, where did you get this locket?"
"From a very special craftsman, why do you ask?"
"Sweetheart, he said, "These symbols are Kryptonian. They say, you will always be the love of my life. There isn't anyone on this planet that knows that language, except me."
"Lana smiled and said well I guess you're going to have to thank Santa then, because he was the one who got it for me to give to you."
Lana looked over at Clark and said, "Why are you so concerned. You are the love of my life." Then she thought, Kryptonian symbols, what does that mean? I will have to have a good discussion with him tonight after we come back from Chloe's. There is more to him than I could ever imagine!