Part Three
The attractive couple had been walking all over Metropolis. They had just finished strolling through Centennial Park, admiring the vibrant autumn foliage. Now they arrived in front of the Lexor Hotel. Clark had it in his mind to propose while drinking tea and eating scones in the luxurious tearoom.
“Farmboy, I’m getting tired, my feet are killing me! I need to sit down in the lobby for a minute! We have visited just about every spot in the city where we broke a major story!”
“Yeah,” her partner answered. “Time has really done some changes to a lot of those locations, especially Samuel Platt’s ‘home’.”
“I agree, that disgusting old rat infested warehouse was reclaimed and made into loft apartments.
“So, why are we stopping here at the Lexor?” Lois asked, her curiosity piqued.
“We never did visit the tearoom. Let’s sit down and warm up for awhile. Besides, it will be a great way to laugh at all the funny things that happened during our ‘honeymoon’.”
The beautiful brown-haired woman rolled her eyes at the memory. “How could I forget? That bellhop couldn’t have been more greedy and obnoxious if he tried! Oh, remember the thoughtless maid who walked in on us while we were filming Ian Harrington?” Her face colored ever so slightly revisiting memory. “Oh Clark, that was our ‘first’ kiss!”
“Yeah, actually… it was our ‘second’ kiss.” He looked down at her and smiled, his handsome face igniting a bright light in her heart. “Remember the one just before Trask threw you out of the plane?”
Lois returned the gaze, her eyes glittering with amusement. “You kept track of our kisses?”
“Of course.” His deep voice had abruptly cracked with emotion. “I kept track of everything that ever happened between us. What we have is special and each moment should be savored.”
Right there on the busy street, Clark cupped her sweet face in his hands and kissed her tenderly. Temporarily forgotten were the people swarming around them as they lingered in a warm, loving embrace. Time had slowed and stilled. Clark heard a voice in his head say, <This is it! This is *the* moment! Ask Lois Lane to marry you!>
Abruptly a vague familiar voice broke into his thoughts. “Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Kent! Welcome back to the Lexor! Are you here to celebrate an anniversary? The Honeymoon suite just happens to be available!"
Lois, groaning internally, having recognized the obsequious young man as their former bellhop immediately said “Never mind Clark, maybe we should go back to my place or yours. It will be easier... and cheaper to warm up there!”
The bellhop looked from one of them to the other and squeaked, “You’re not married?”
Lois walked away, not interested in hearing anything the bellhop had to say. Clark shook his head and ran after her. He was disappointed as well, another opportunity to propose thoroughly gone.
<The ring! The ring! Its burning a hole in my pocket!> He thought anxiously.
***
It took another twenty minutes of brisk walking in the nippy early evening air to reach the section of Metropolis Clark called home. When her partner had first moved into his building, it was not one of the brightest spots in the city. One thing had always stuck Lois as rather peculiar, but slowly over the past four years, the neighborhood gradually but steadily become more upscale. During the time of the Nightfall asteroid, laundry hung between Clark’s building and its neighbor. Nowadays the fussy new property owner would *never* permit such a thing to happen. In fact, the space between the buildings became the target of a professional landscaping crew. They immediately cleaned out all the garbage and debris then turned the space into a fragrant flower and herb garden.
As the disreputable pool halls, bars, and tasteless pizza parlors gave way to bookstores, coffee shops, and chic boutiques; the old tenants had vacated the area in favor of cheaper rent elsewhere. She remembered staff reporter Diane Pallister commenting on the evolution in the Daily Planet’s Weekend section.
“The neighborhood, once a melting pot of malcontents and thieves is now enjoying a renaissance as artists, writers and young professionals make the area home.”
At the time, Lois did not connect Clark’s moving into Clinton Street, as the start of the change. She had merely figured he was lucky enough to find a great apartment at just the right time. How did she know that Superman would clean up his own neighborhood first?
With upscale communities came upscale rents. She knew Clark’s lease would be up in three months. The current rent was $900.00 per month. The other apartments with tenants who had come only three years after him were paying three times that amount. As one of the Daily Planet’s top reporters, he made a decent salary, but enough to cover such a rent hike? Sooner or later it was going to be a cause of concern for her best friend.
They strolled easily through the quiet streets, several people walked by, entering some of the local restaurants for dinner. The autumn air tinged with a pleasant snap to it. The couple felt content and easy in each other’s company. Almost reluctantly, they reached the outside steps of his apartment. The entire area seemed bathed in a gentle nimbus of moonlight. Clark halted at the bottom step - now was the moment - and beckoned Lois to sit down on the top step.
“Are you sure? It’s kind of chilly,” Lois remarked, hesitating to sit.
“Yes, I’m sure, we only need to be out here for a few minutes the night is so pretty. I wanted to talk about us. Here take my jacket,” he whispered quietly. With those chocolate brown eyes begging her to comply, he wrapped the leather jacket over her slender frame.
“Okay, what’s on your mind Farmboy?” She giggled, sat down and snuggled up close to him.
“Well, I know we’ve only been dating six months, but I have to tell you this has been the happiest time of my life. Our life as friends, work partners, and a couple means more than I can express.”
“My feelings are the same Clark. I love you so much. My life before you was shallow and empty. It is a time I never want to return. You are my best friend and the man I care about more than anyone in the world.”
“Life goes by so fast, it can all change in just a second. What we have built together so far is to be appreciated and cherish you. I love you so very much.”
Clark reached into his pocket and from its depths came a red and gold velvet box. He waited a beat than opened the box to reveal a gleaming ring in the spill of moonlight.
Her delicate fingers touched quivering lips and tried to speak, but no words came out.
“Lois Lane, will you be my wife?” Clark whispered his deep voice thick with emotion.
Again, words failed her. A great lump formed in her throat and she worked vigorously to swallow. Still nothing. Finally, Lois Lane, famed investigative reporter of the Daily Planet and babble artist extraordinaire could only manage to shake her head enthusiastically.
Clark, his own throat choked up. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes.” She whispered hoarsely.
No more words need be spoken, the two friends folded clumsily into each other arms, crying and laughing with equal parts intensity and immense joy.
“Oh wait, l… let me put the ring on your finger,” Clark’s voice was still shaking.
In an instant, the ring was on her finger and seemed to shine with greater power. It was the end of them living separate lives and the beginning of a new and wonderful life. A path they would travel on together… forever.
The End
