Chapter 12 [Luthor Mansion—Twenty Minutes Later]
Lex sipped Scotch from a crystal glass. His eyes studied the flames' dance in the fireplace. Preparations and Details had consumed his day. The Symphony and Smallville High School singers would work together on a suitable performance in the plaza. Metropolis' City Hall coordinated with police and fire departments as well. The costumes would arrive sometime on Friday morning. Martha baked away in her kitchen. St. Matthias decorated their open space for Santa's visit. Rambusco's reserved tables for dinner prior to the performance. This might actually work! Maybe I can do a batch or two more of cookies with Mrs. Kent. That woman's a saint. He shook his head.
"Excuse me, Master Lex?" A well-built red headed man in a traditional English butler's uniform cleared his throat. He stood at attention. His hands remained at his side.
"Yes, Stockwell?" Lex stifled a sigh. He is punctual and efficient. Have to give him that! Wish he'd lighten up. He emptied the glass and turned toward his butler. "Dinner ready?" Boredom somehow didn't roll his eyes with this particular hire.
"Indeed, Sir. The Kents and Miss Lang are waiting in the dining room. I hope you don't mind. I thought to serve their desired drink of choice. Dinner is ready and waiting in the kitchen. We are ready to serve whenever you wish," Stockwell reported.
"Give it about ten minutes, Stockwell. I'll see to our guests myself. Get the glasses if you would?" Lex pulled on his gray blazer over the plum dress shirt. He strode down the hall and descended the stairs. Holiday motifs greeted his eye. White and Silver Garlands rose and dipped along the stairs. Snowflakes and Garlands punctuated spots along the walls. He relaxed his gait to a saunter toward the room in question. Mom would be impressed. Stockwell might have hope after all! He walked into the dining room. "How'd the rehearsal go? Ready to knock Metropolis' socks off?"
"Clark definitely made an impression. He's going to do great as Santa." Lana managed to keep her expression neutral. Revelations swirled about in her mind. "I had to deal with some staffing issues. We kind of got cut short. Any word on the costumes?"
"They'll be here tomorrow. I requested that they'd be here by noon. Maybe you two can come by around 1? We can make sure they fit properly." Lex regarded Clark and Martha. "Mrs. Kent? Clark? Everything all right?" Now what? Experience reminded him of the Kents' walling off process. Did something happen at the farm? Now Lana's doing it too? Really?
"Sure, Lex. We'll be here. Sorry. I was running back and forth between the kitchen and Loft. Kind of trying to help Mom and practice with Lana." Clark added a shrug to further sell the point. He cleared his throat. "Sorry." He put his fist in front of his mouth.
Lex stiffened. "Not getting a cold are you, Clark? I could have a doctor look at that. Can't have our Santa losing his voice before the big day." His eyebrow arched. "You were okay earlier."
"This has been a stressful week. I gave Clark something for it before we left the house, Lex. Thank you anyhow." Martha managed a small smile. "That's why he asked for coffee."
"Keep that hot stuff going. Good idea, Mrs. Kent. Maybe some honey too." Lex sized up Clark again. He restrained himself from 'rest up' remark. How's he going to get into the hospital with a cold? Really? "Meanwhile, everything's set in Metropolis. Once again, thanks for baking those cookies."
"You're welcome. I hope the kids like them. By the way, Lana wanted to ask you about the hermits." Martha glanced toward Lana. She noted Lana's absent look. "Lana?"
Lana jerked herself from Reverie's grasp. How do I deal with this? I really need to talk with them and Pete. I'll never be able to keep this secret. "Sorry, Mrs. Kent. I was zoning out for a minute there. Just thinking about those hermit cookies this afternoon. They reminded me of the cookies my Mom made."
"I imagine they were." Nostalgia lit up Lex's eyes and prompted a smile from him. "She and Mom learned the recipe from the same source back east. I dropped some off to Miranda. You should've seen her. Her whole face lit up. She said the same thing you did." A warm chuckle hung in the air before he continued. "Her Great Grandmother's recipe actually. Keep that in here. I don't want that getting out."
"Wait. We know who Miranda's family was? Lex, I thought she was an orphan?" Clark grunted. For Act's sake, he rubbed his throat.
A pained sigh escaped Lex's lips. "Miranda is an orphan, Clark. Her family was murdered. But yes, she's a niece of an old family friend. That friend helped to keep the Talon open years ago. Anyhow, she takes after her uncle." Playful Smirk crossed his face. "He stood up to my Dad on more than one occasion. Think Byron and you get the idea."
"Really?" Lana's interest perked up. "He's into poetry too?"
Martha nodded. "He could match Byron for spontaneous poetic verse. He pulled one right out of thin air in the medical center back then. He did a reading in the Talon's old theater back then as well. I still make David's Dijon ham once in a while. He mentioned his grandmother used that for turkey? By the time Jonathan, Lana's parents and I met her, the cancer kept Mrs. Dubois from cooking a great deal. Laura and I helped her in Ludlow that one time. That was right before we went up to that farm in North Aggleston. Remember?" Memoria swept Martha back thirty years. Then, she and Laura Potter—then a teenager herself—worked alongside an elderly woman on the hermits in question.
"I've had both, Mrs. Kent. Miss Janet's turkey was something else. In fact, I'm glad you brought that up. That's what we're having for dinner actually." Lex motioned toward the table. "Please take a seat. Since we're preserving traditions, why not bring one back out of the mothballs?" He surveyed the pristine white tablecloth with its four place settings, fine coffee mugs and glasses. A white candle burned in the center. "Stockwell, we're ready."
"Very good, Sir." Stockwell brought in four covered platters. He set one down in front of each of them. "And what would everyone like to drink? I have fresh coffee brewing. We have milk and tea as well?"
"I'd like some more coffee please when it's ready. Thanks, Mr. Stockwell." Talk of Laura's history distracted Lana from Clark's secret. "Nell never really talks about that. It's kind of a big mystery about my Mom and Dad. Nell just said it's past and to deal with it. I wish I knew more. I know we're talking about Miranda and your friends, Lex."
"It's all related, Lana. I can try and find some photos around here." Lex uncovered his plate. There he found three healthy slices of turkey, some fresh green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy. "That takes me back." He cut a piece of turkey and sampled it. "Just as I remember it."
"It is very good." Martha sampled the beans and potatoes as well. "I was going to make the ham on Christmas Day. I could try the macaroni and cheese too. Miranda and Lana are coming for dinner with us. I can make extra."
"Thank you, Mrs. Kent. I'd never turn one of your meals especially not that one." Lex savored another bite from his turkey. Honey Mustard's sweet and savory danced across his tongue and throughout his mouth. "He hooked Mr. Kent on that meal. I remember that." He laughed to himself. "Anyhow, Mom and those folks would be pleased that we're doing this on Saturday. I was thinking of leaving by 8. That way, we can be in Metropolis by 11. That'll give us a couple of hours before meeting the kids at the hospital. "Let me know if you need another crock pot. I've got one here you can have."
"I will. Meantime, those sugar cookies are ready. I'll need to do a couple more batches tomorrow." Martha mulled over that point. "I might need Clark and Lana to go and get some more ingredients before they come here."
"Sure, Mom. We'll take care of it. Just let us know what you need. We'll have to think about somewhere to eat dinner too." Clark took a bite from his own turkey. "This tastes like the same glaze, Mom."
"Miranda's uncle adapted it for the ham, Clark." Lex took a draught from his mug. "I have reservations all set at a great Italian place near the plaza. Then we'll finish in the plaza. We should be done by 9 or 10. You can try and drive back. I've made reservations at the Carlton for that night. Then we can be back here on Sunday."
"I'll see how I feel on Saturday. Maybe I can help Dad get ahead before we leave?" Clark offered (even though he knew he would do so).
"Better rest, Clark. I want Santa in the best shape possible for his big day. Same with the Elf." Lex speared some beans and put them in his mouth.
Clark nodded. He ate some potatoes. His mind planned for that eventuality.
How do they do it? Lana marveled over the Kents' control and play acting.
Practice was needed and for more than they knew….