Hi Corrina!
As they sat down at the table laden with knives, boards, huge pots and almost endless apples, Martha said, “Would you still like to buy some more clothes?”
For dome reason I’m flashing to Martha first selling Lois some clothes, then a timeshare farm, and then farming equipment.
Lois turned her concentration to the apples. Inside, she was celebrating. And she couldn’t wait to share the news with Clark.
Awww… operation “Cheering Martha” is working!
Every head turned towards them. Every face registered surprise. Every mouth smiled.
Martha stalled.
/taps foot/ what’s the secret here?
Maisie wrote down their order, looked at Martha, and opened her mouth to speak.
“And a jug of water with two glasses, please,” Lois said. “Thank you.” The final two words were crisp, with an edge of dismissal.
Protective Lois!
“Are you intending to stay for a while?” Martha asked quickly. “You’re very welcome.”
They need a farmhand willing to help Clark with his nightly chores.
Maisie brushed at a couple of specks on the table. “And one from so far away. It’s wonderful to catch up with distant family.”
Lois so looks like a city girl, huh?
Maisie: … and the Martha imported a professional caregiver for her son. I wouldn’t have believed it myself if I hadn’t seen her sitting there with naked knees!
Five minutes later, a man came through the door, headed to the counter, saw Martha, and sauntered over. “I hear your farmhand has gone,” he said without preamble.
Yes, Sheriff, but there’s no indication that he has cooked drugs in the old shed or taken them to Kansas City to sell to elementary school kids.
“A bit down this year. I’ve finished preserving it.”
“We started the apples yesterday.”
“Have you finished?” Anna asked.
“No. Not yet.”
“I’m about to start on the pears.”
Preservation competition!
And it hadn’t escaped her that if Anna were helping Martha, it could possibly free Lois. Maybe Clark could use some help?
Awwww…
“Clark and Lana…”
“It’ll be one year next month.”
Their break-up?
“Maybe they’re waiting for the first anniversary to make the announcement.”
Oh, look! He might not know about his kryptonian wife, but then his Terran professional caregiver doesn’t know about his Terran engagement either, so it’s all balanced out.
And the fun they’d had choosing new clothes.
She could model them!
She picked up her clock and set the alarm for 3:30am.
He didn’t want to say anything that risked jolting her out of the one-day-at-a-time mindset that had clearly brought her some peace.
It might also trigger a fight or flight reflex, light on the fight.
It was obvious she was pleased about something. Clark’s heart rate accelerated. Was she about to tell him she’d decided to leave? To return to her life in Metropolis? “Go on,” he said.
Yes, that would please her to no end.
“Yes.” Lois looked down at the hay. Maybe, she was staying for a while. Clark quickly reached for the folded blanket and placed it neatly on the bale. Lois smiled her thanks and sat down.
It’s adorable how the male hawk prepares the nest for his female hawk
Clark grinned. “Farm clothes. Did you buy anything?”
“A few things.”
He’d like for Lois the model the straw hat. And perhaps the dungarees.
Why would a city girl need farm clothes?
For farm work. And/or enticing farm boys.
Lois was awesome. She had managed to do in five days what he had failed to do in almost eleven months.
Poor guy. Also… /does math/ will the story go for five or more weeks?
because “almost eleven months” is quite the emotional Checkov’s Gun.
“I guess not,” she said. “I guess there are a lot of things out of your control. Weather. Babies. That sort of thing.”
And not to forget Loises.
“Some things are bigger than we are.”
/points at Bess/
Lois’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “No!” she said. “The sex of the calf can’t affect the hair on her head.”
Wonder if that also works with Loises.
“The truth is unbelievable.”
He’d want to be a firefighting pilot.
And I dreamed of being a reporter at The Daily Planet.”
The ‘Farm Boy’ had been the final straw. He was powerless now and would be powerless to keep from falling in love with her over and over and over again.
Awwww. This also poses a conundrum.
“I had decided to return to the States, and then my dad had a heart attack.”
Hey! You said he didn’t!
Lois’s hand rested lightly on his. “Is that when he passed away?”
“No. I looked after the farm while he recovered. Then we worked it together.”
Oh.
“There’s no one else?” Clark asked.
“Just me,” she said. “I don’t have anyone else.”
He’s probably doing cartwheels now.
Clark’s heart splintered as he clenched his arms to stop from drawing her close and telling her she had him and he would be there for her whenever she needed, whatever she needed.
Yeah, this might trigger a flight or FLIGHT response.
The mention of that name was like a splash of cold water. “He’s the editor of the local paper.”
“That’s why he wants you to work for him.”
“When did you meet Anton?” Clark asked, trying to keep his tone even.
“Today. He came over in the café and told Martha his door was always open.”
So, Lois should not tell him she’s newspaper royalty, huh?
Martha his door was always open.”
“I will never work for him.”
Oh?
Clark had never thought of it that way. “You could be right,” he said.
“I am right.”
“You like being right, don’t you?”
. I want you in my life forever. You’re beautiful.
He could freeze her?
Activate hill-run protocol.
“There’s a position vacant at The Daily Planet at present. I could have a word with Perry White on your behalf if you wanted me to.”
Ummm…
. “But I honestly couldn’t say if that would increase your chances of getting the job or utterly destroy them.”
See?
whether he farmed or whether he worked at The Daily Planet or any other newspaper – it was immaterial.
The only thing that mattered was being with Lois.
Umm…
So, you’re dropping hint after hint. /eyes half-finished painting/ Hmm… /re-arranges parts/ This is going to be a fine Picasso!
Michael
Love this callback!