Chapter 4 [Talon]
Late afternoon's bustle wound down. Line dwindled. Lull set in between after school Crows' murder and Commuters' caffeinated needs on the way home from work. Students studied at tables. Gossip and news circulated around the café's dining area. The staff cleaned and waited on people as best as they could manage.
Such as it went on a midweek day….
Lana watched the coffee press with care. Espresso flowed into tiny cups beneath the spouts. She poured them into a larger paper cup. Milk frothed in its metallic pitcher. Gingerbread flavoring and Nutmeg spiced the concoction. The spoon stirred the drink. A sleeve and plastic top completed the process. She efforted herself to turn back around toward the register. "Sorry, Mr. Hanson. I'm still a little slow I guess." Her leg still balked at the required effort.
A slightly overweight balding man shrugged. "You take your time, Lana. I'm not in a hurry. You all make great drinks here. How's therapy going?" As with the rest of Smallville, he knew about her accident in the stables. Wonder still spun his head over her working so soon after the accident.
"Thanks. Got to pay the rent and help Mr. Sullivan with groceries. Right?" His attitude boosted her mood. "Besides, I wouldn't get to see you and everyone else. Now would I?" Gratitude and Mirth sparkled in her eyes.
"You also should take care of yourself." He sampled the drink. "Mmm! Excellent as always. Remember we want you around for a long time yet. Therapy's hard on the Missus. We're getting there though."
Lana nodded. Memoria recalled Mabel Hanson from the outpatient facility. "Tell her to keep at it. Hope she's doing okay. She's always so encouraging. Meantime I'm staying back here for the most part. I have to have other folks bring the bin to the back. Otherwise, I can make drinks and take orders. If I go slow, I can help out on the floor."
Hanson nodded. "At least you're taking it easy. Glad to hear that. Well, I have to pick her up. Give my best to Mr. Sullivan and Chloe when you see them. Great job, Miranda." He waved to the tall, dark haired girl to his right.
Miranda finished a customer's coffee refill. Then she turned. "You too, Mr. Hanson. Everything all right with Mrs. Hanson and the family?" She enjoyed their conversations at the counter.
"I was just telling Lana that her therapy's hard on her. We'll get her through it though. Glad Lana can stay up there. I don't want her reinjuring herself. Sorry." A frown weighed on Hanson's expression. His eyes flitted toward Lana for a heartbeat.
"Concern's always a good thing, Mr. Hanson. We appreciate it. Just a sec." Miranda checked on everyone at the table. "Let us know if you need anything. Okay, Folks? Thanks." She turned back to Hanson. "That gingerbread latte's something else. I'm addicted to them."
"They are that I have to say. Those dandies are great too." Hanson looked around the area. "Well I won't keep you. Just wanted to say hi. Hope you have something for Christmas."
Miranda shrugged. "I've got a few invitations. Thanks for the thoughts. Besides, I always have time for our customers and neighbors. Give me a minute. I'll get her a coffee on the house." She rushed for the counter. "Mind if I send a cheer up coffee to Mrs. Hanson, Boss?"
"Never stand in the way of good customer relations, Miri." Lana smiled at her best friend/lieutenant. "Mrs. Hanson deserves it. Lex won't mind." She took a fresh pot off of its warmer and filled another to-go cup. "Milk and two sugars. Right, Mr. Hanson?"
"You got it not that I'm surprised, Ladies." Hanson stuck a five in the tip jar. "No arguments. You two deserve that at least."
"Just being good neighbors." Lana fixed the cup and handed it to Hanson. "There you go! Make sure she comes in. We'd like to see her."
"Thanks. She'll appreciate this." Hanson raised the two cups in Toast's service. Then he headed out the door. "Clark! Hey! How's everything at the farm?"
Clark cracked a smile for Hanson's benefit. Granted his issues sagged across his mind. Still, Necessity demanded that he maintain a good front at least. "Everything's good. You know how it is. We just finished harvest. Mom's got the preserves in the cellar. How about with you? Mrs. Hanson still at therapy?"
"I'm just heading out to pick her up at the clinic now." Hanson motioned toward the café. "Maybe you might want to keep an eye on Lana? I know you two are friends. She's pushing herself awfully hard in there."
Guilt poked at Clark's heart yet again. Lex's situation and his inability to open up to her contributed to Lana's accident and pain. "Lana's really got her heart in this place, Mr. Hanson. I'll mention it to Miranda and Mr. Sullivan. We can all keep an eye on her."
"That's good." Hanson looked Clark over again. Concern combined with Skepticism in regards to the teen's state of affairs. Still, he wasn't about to meddle. "That sounds good. Sorry. I just don't want her to hurt herself worse. Maybe Lex Luthor could say the same? Anyhow, best to your parents. Your Mom's pie is always the best. Take care, Clark."
"You too. She'll appreciate that. Thanks, Mr. Hanson." Clark watched him walk toward his truck. Good neighbors are worth having. Dad sure is right about that! Then he shuffled into the café. He stepped out of the way of a half-dozen departing classmates. His eyes surveyed the dining area. He sucked in a pained breath. Then he continued toward the counter. "Hi, Lana. Guess this is a good time?"
"Anytime we're open is a good time, Clark. You know that." Lana restrained herself. Mutual classes proved difficult for her to be honest. Rejection stung at her heart. Resistance barred her attempts to reach him. "You know that we are still friends if you want to talk. Right?" She poured a coffee for him.
"That's really great of you, Lana. I'm not sure I deserve that." Clark dug a couple of dollars from his pocket and handed it to her. Regret ached inside of himself. Her limp only reminded him of the Secret's indiscretions. Guilt's pyre burned hotter and hotter still inside of himself. "First Mr. Reynolds and now I get you all upset."
Miranda rolled her eyes. "Hate to break it to you, Captain Plaid. You haven't done anything today other than say hi and pay for a coffee. Not everything you do is bad. Let's keep it that way. All right?" She pressed past him and behind the counter. Now what? Her eyebrow raised. "But something happened?"
"Miri, it's okay. Clark's dealing with his blindness and the recovery. I get that. He's trying to respect my space here and at school." Lana motioned toward the back.
Clark looked about the area. Unbussed tables marred the dining area's appearance. "Mr. Reynolds was bugging me about service activities again." He shrugged off the point. "I know I don't work here anymore. Maybe I can grab the bin and bring the dirty stuff to the back?"
"Clark, you don't have to." Lana noted the 'make nice' gesture. Appreciation lightened her outlook at that point. "We can…"
"I've got it. Maybe call my Mom and Dad and let them know? I wanted some advice on service stuff around Smallville. Maybe I can earn that and help you both out?" Clark set the mug down on the counter. "I've got it." Without another word, he walked around the counter and grabbed the empty bin by the backroom's sink. "I clear? You wipe, Miranda?"
Miranda nodded. "I can deal with that. Okay, Clark. You're on." She shook Lana's objections off. "You." She pointed at the floor behind the register. "Stay. We've got the floor. He's smartened up for the moment. Go with it." (Granted, Doubt over Clark's motives and overall outlook tarnished her thoughts at that point. Still, she knew better than to look Ye Olde Gift Horse in the mouth at that point.) She grabbed a fresh rag and the spray bottle from the back. "I mean it. Stay." She marched toward Clark's position.
Great. Now everyone's babysitting me? Lana folded her arms. She watched Clark ease his way around the customers. He'd clear the table. Then Miranda sprayed and wiped everything down after him. "Guess I'm outvoted." She threw her hands up in the air. She pulled her cell out and dialed the Kents' number.
"Good afternoon. Kent Farm," Martha answered.
"Hi, Mrs. Kent. It's Lana over at the Talon. Sorry to bother you. I just wanted you to know Clark's here." Lana watched Clark clear off two more tables. "He was just going to get a coffee. We're falling behind so he offered to help out. He and I wanted you to know."
"I appreciate that, Lana. Everything all right?" Martha let her question about Lana's emotional state on her last visit to the farm go by the wayside.
"We had someone call in. Some tables needed to be cleared. He and Miranda are working together. I'm watching the counter. You know how it is." Lana wiped down the counter with her own rag.
"Lana, you're still dealing with your leg. Give yourself a chance. It's great that you're on your feet and working as it is. I'll let Mr. Kent know. Tell him that there's no hurry. Dinner won't be ready for a few hours yet. Thank you for letting us know." Martha rubbed her forehead.
"He wanted to talk afterwards. It's slow. I would've listened now, Mrs. Kent. He wanted to help. I just wish that he didn't hold so much in." Lana leaned back against the back counter. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Whatever it is, I can deal with it."
Martha nodded to herself. Her earlier assessment echoed back to her ears. "I know, Sweetie. I know these last few months haven't been easy for any of us. Your accident just made it harder. Maybe you can come over for dinner on Christmas Day?"
Lana weighed the invitation. Reluctance held her back. Still, she would be alone that day. Besides, Hope warmed her heart. Open Door offered a chance…a chance… "Chloe and her Dad are going to be out of town. That'd be great actually. I don't want to intrude. I can bring something or help out?"
"Lana, you know the door's always open for you. It's our pleasure. Mr. Kent and I talked about going to Garden City to pick out a tree. Maybe if you're not working, you could come too? It'd be nice to talk when we aren't dealing with something. I'd like your feedback. We know Clark values your opinion. Just think about it. Let us know. Meantime, thank you for letting us know about Clark. Take care of yourself. If you need any help while the Sullivans are gone, you let us know." Martha slid the roast and muffins onto Oven's respective wire racks and shut its door.
"Thanks, Mrs. Kent. I'll do that." Lana saw Lex saunter through the door. "I'll let you know about Garden City. All right? Sorry but have to go. Take care and best to Mr. Kent." She disconnected the call and slid the phone back into her pocket. She noted Lex's grim expression. Now what? Hope everything's okay!
Something was up….