Army brat, Farm guy
Chapter 6 Thanksgiving III
Previously: When Clark and Jonathon come down, the ladies are smiling and laughing. Lois gets up and serves the guys a mug of coffee, finishing the carafe. She asks Martha where the coffee beans are; Martha points to a cupboard, then freezes. Lois opens the cupboard and pulls down a cute little 2 lb. burlap bag of coffee beans. It has Spanish writing on it, but there is a recognizable name – Columbia, SA. Lois reads that and looks at Clark. A puzzled expression on her face.
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Jonathon slips out of the kitchen. He sends a TXT to Chloe. Alerting her of the need for cover.
JK: 911 Columbia, SA
CSO: OK
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Lois brings the little bag to the table and sits. She looks from Martha to Clark, "So, the mystery of the great coffee, huh?" She smirks.
Clark knows that his dad has texted Chloe, and that his cover is in place. "Yep, busted. A few years ago, I had the privilege of visiting South America. I coincidentally met a Juan Valdez. He grows some of the best coffee beans in the world-
"Clark, is this a fairy tale, or what?" Lois rolls her eyes.
"Scouts honor, Lois. With help from Chloe and Oliver we set up periodic deliveries. A really short list of customers: myself, mom & dad, Chloe & Oliver. Would you like to join that exclusive list?" He looks at her expectantly.
Lois doesn't know what to say. "Ah . . . I suppose so. Sure, what do I need to do?"
"You just did it, Lois. I will take care of the rest. Would you like delivery at home? Or where?"
"Maybe at the Daily Planet?"
"Ok, I'll make a note of that." He gets out his phone and sends himself and Chloe a text. CK: add Lois to coffee beans delivery list ASAP!
"Just like that?" Lois wonders.
"Yup, just like that. Now, shall we talk about today's tasks?"
Over their final mugs of coffee, they take notes and divvy up interviews and photo shoots. They plan on all 4 of them meeting at The Talon for lunch.
Lois is 1st to arrive at the lunch spot. She finds a corner booth and orders a cappuccino, and requests a menu.
"Are you with the Kents," a tall redhead waitress asks.
"Ah, yes I am." Lois is puzzled.
"Your lunch is preordered ma'am. I'll get it started for you."
"Ok, thank you."
"You are very welcome, ma'am. Will there be anything else?"
"No, thanks."
"Very well, I'll be right back with your drink."
'Wow, is everyone so polite out here? Maybe there is something to this Smallville thing?"
Soon her cappuccino arrives followed by Clark and his parents. The redhead quickly shows up with 3 beverages; Lois looks at the redhead, puzzled.
"Hi, Miri," Clark greets her with a smile.
"Clark, I miss seeing you around," her smile lights up the room. "Is Metropolis treating you well?"
Lois' stomach tightens. She wonders why.
"They are." He lays a hand on Lois' forearm, "This is Lois Lane, my partner at the Daily Planet." She doesn't shrug his hand away; she wonders why, again.
"Miss Lane! I Love your-
DING DING
"Oh, there's your lunch! I'll be right back." Miri returns momentarily with their lunch; a platter of assorted sandwiches, a 2nd one of pastries.
"I hope I can get time to chat Miss Lane, if you don't mind." Miranda suggests.
"Of course. Stop by as we finish."
Martha passes around food and the table quiets.
Clark has an idea. When Miri has a slow minute, he gets up, goes over and puts his arm around her shoulders. He whispers in her ear. She smiles and nods as he slips her his camera. He comes back, sits down and resumes eating.
"What was that, Smallville?" Lois asks.
"Just asking for a favor," Clark returns.
They don't notice Miranda snapping an occasional picture of their table; she does it so nonchalantly.
After lunch Lois and Clark do 2 joint interviews, then 1 solo each. They gather back at the farm just after 5 PM.
"I am going to the loft and do some sketching," Clark announces. He exits through the back door.
"Lois, dear, will you help me with supper?"
"Certainly, Martha. What are we making?"
"Hamburger steak. Can you shape the patties?"
"Sure."
1 HOUR LATER
Lois climbs the steps to the loft. As she gets to the main floor, she sees Clark just finishing a winter scene of the yellow farmhouse. She stops close behind him and places her hands on his shoulders. He doesn't even flinch; like he knew she was there.
"That's beautiful, Clark. Who is it for?"
"I don't know. Many times, I just sketch. It settles my nerves and allows me time to think."
"Nerves? What's up?" She should be nervous, not him.
"A lot was . . . never mind." He shudders. "Is it supper time?"
"Yes."
"I'll wrap this up in a couple minutes. Be there soon."
Ok." She gives his shoulders a gentle squeeze, and heads back down the stairs.
He shivers, finishes what he was doing and packs up. Lois hadn't noticed, but upside down on the desk was a sketch Clark had worked on for 6 months. He had planned on giving it to her on this trip. Now, he didn't know. Things had gotten complicated.
He entered the kitchen and headed for the downstairs bathroom. He washed his hands and joined the family at the table. After Martha offered the blessing, the food was passed and eating begun. Clark was conspicuously quiet. Lois busily recounted her day, displaying her amazement at the uniformly good manners and cheerfulness of rural people, especially in holiday season. She would occasionally eye her partner. He seemed lost in another world. When she looked to Martha or Jonathon, they would slightly shake their heads. As if to say, 'Leave well enough alone'. She was concerned; this wasn't like her partner.
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THANKSGIVING DAY
Clark told his dad that he would handle the chores – his present to his father. Jonathon accepted, but it worried him. Clark used super speed, of course. After he finished, he stayed in the loft sketching some more.
"Martha, is Clark, ok? He seems off to me," Lois inquires.
"I don't know dear. I've noticed it too. Can you go check the loft? I'm sure he's there. That's his space for comfort or thinking things through."
"I will." Lois walks to the barn and up the stairs. He isn't there. She walks around, peering out the large window. She turns around and sees what looks like a sketch, upside down on the desk. She picks it up, turns it over and freezes.
It is a sketch, but one the likes of which she has never seen. There are 5 sketches on 1 large page; she is stunned! She lays it on the desk and sits down before her legs give out. The 5 individual sketches are of the Lane family at Thanksgiving dinner, sometime in the past. The setting is the house the girls grew up in – for part of their lives; and where her father lives now. In the sketches are San, Emma, Lois and Lucy. The girls appear to be 8 & 10 y/o or so. The parents sit at either end of the appropriately decorated table; the girls on either side. Dad has before him a beautifully browned turkey; a carving fork in his left hand, a carving knife in his right. The 4 corner sketches are each from a view wherein 1 family member is front and center. The central sketch is an overhead view, as if there was a drone camera in the chandelier. Taken together, the effect is absolutely incredible!
Lois sits there entranced, closely examining each sketch in turn. There are bookcases against the wall, and other details that she remembers. She can recognize the titles of some of the books; she has read them!
She is so absorbed in what she sees, that she doesn't hear Clark climb the stairs. He steps quietly until he's right behind her. He lightly places a hand on each shoulder, and presses very gently.
She tenses a little but doesn't turn her head. "This is . . . I don't know how to describe my feelings."
He withdraws and sits on the couch. "I was going to give it to you while we were here."
"*You were? And . . .. ah, now . . . ah, that's sweet. But why?" She can't understand this. The whole Smallville experience is threatening to overwhelm her.
"Well, you've shared how your memories of holidays are so few, so not happy, I thought that maybe I could help. By showing you your family when it was happy. I hope you're not angry with me. I didn't intend to intrude-
"Clark," Lois whispered from beside him. He hadn't noticed as she came and sat next to him. "That's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. All day today, as I interviewed people, I wondered how people could be so nice, so optimistic. And right there beside me, you sit at the Daily Planet day after day. The nicest, kindest, most caring man I've ever known. Thank you, Clark!"
He looks at her, "For what, Lois?"
"Just for being you. And for being my partner . . . Smallville." Her smile fills the loft. She reaches for his chin, turns his head and gives him a firm kiss on the lips.
He is shocked but responds in kind. "Did you really mean that, Lois? I've wanted to kiss you for so long."
She nods and pulls him down into another kiss. "Yes, I meant it. After seeing Smallville for what it really is . . . I realized what you mean to me."
"Lois, I-
"Let me explain, please. When Perry introduced us as new partners, I was skeptical-
"Default" Clark whispers.
Lois gives him a soft elbow, but smiles. "But over time, you proved yourself to be a capable reporter and partner. When you learned my preferred way to do coffee in less than 1 day – I was impressed! I kept waiting for the real guy to appear; just like all the others. I finally realized that I was seeing the real Clark Kent. Somehow, you have made it past my walls, my defenses. Now, you are . . . the most . . . ah, important person in my life." She lowers her head, blushing.
He needed his super hearing to hear those last words. He grasps her hand and raises it to his lips for a soft kiss. 'Is this the time to tell her?'
He decides to take the plunge.
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TBC
CSO = Chloe Sullivan Queen. After her marriage to Oliver Queen. She doesn't like CSQ! So, she uses the 1st letter of his 1st name. Picky woman!