Still loving this, Lynn - surprisingly for me, as I don't always enjoy a slow-moving story, but this one definitely works for me!
As others have said, you're doing a terrific job of setting the scene: the people, the conditions, the atmosphere and so on.
You're doing something else, too. Every time I start to think, "But wouldn't it be a better use of Clark's time to..." or "But it would be a lot quicker, surely, if he just..." you have an explanation for me. And a darned good one, too!
His conversation with his parents was very poignant. It's clear that, for now, he doesn't even want to think about Metropolis and all it meant to him, much less focus on Lois; his dreams show that clearly too.
As for Gillian, I think she's good for him right now. She doesn't fawn over him and nor does she offer him pity or sympathy. She's a tough cookie, but those two moments in this section where she showed him compassion and understanding have made me like her.
I know that she's not the one for Clark, and I do hope that Clark doesn't hurt her. But somehow I find myself thinking that she's not really interested in any long-term commitments anyway - am I right?
I just have one question, Lynn: how does Clark have the money to pay Antonio to clean for him? Does he have any pesos (or whatever) with him? Or how can he get them, if he isn't allowing himself to fly in and out of San Pablo?
As for Lois... I suspect that Lynn will let us see that in her own good time. If, of course, Lois is a part of this story at all...
Wendy
