Thanks to Clark's revelation, Kara finally admitted that she already knew how to cook. So, to everyone's surprise, she prepared lunch herself.
Martha stood by the kitchen door, watching with a look of relief as Kara moved effortlessly between the utensils.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Kara asked, feeling a little uncomfortable under her adoptive mother's gaze. Her usual cooking skills seemed a bit rushed with Martha watching her so intently.
Martha just shook her head with a fond smile, her voice suddenly emotional as she said, "My Kara has grown up."
Kara immediately stopped what she was doing, rushed over, and hugged her adoptive mother. She was now the tallest in the family, standing at an impressive 6'2", even making Clark look a little short next to her.
"Don't worry, I'm not married yet. I'm still the family's daughter," Kara reassured her with a smile.
"But you've already moved out and have your own life and job in the city," Martha replied, with a hint of sadness in her voice.
From the living room, Jonathan's voice interrupted: "Martha, stop embarrassing Kara. And I'm starving! Get out of the kitchen and let her finish."
"That man..." Martha muttered, slightly annoyed.
Kara chuckled, letting her go and gently pushing her mother out. "Really, Mom, you're going to get in the way. I can eat later."
Since it was already noon, Kara didn't make too much food. As Clark had expected, she used the potatoes and carrots they had at home, cooked a large pot of rice, and prepared a delicious chicken curry.
She even took the time to boil some plain chicken and a couple of eggs for the family dog, which had somehow grown picky about its food lately.
People often say dogs shouldn't eat salty or spicy food, but Kara couldn't help but wonder what dogs ate before dog food was invented.
It was probably the first time Martha and Jonathan had ever eaten homemade chicken curry. They might have tried it in a restaurant before, but it certainly wasn't as sweet and flavorful as the one their daughter made today.
Even the dog devoured every bit of food that Kara had prepared, which made her smile in amusement.
After the meal, Kara helped clean everything up and wash the dishes. Martha, once again, wiped away tears, murmuring that her daughter had grown up.
That was part of the reason why Kara tried not to do too much in front of her mother. She knew that Martha tended to overthink things and become emotional at moments like these.
"Mom, it's not the end of the world. I'm just visiting," Kara thought, wondering why her mother seemed so sad, as if she were leaving forever.
And so, Kara spent a month at home in the countryside, enjoying her vacation with the family and helping Clark prepare for his upcoming college life.
The only thing that bothered her a little was Clark's decision to live on campus instead of moving in with her.
"I want to live on my own, sis," Clark said seriously. "I've always had you by my side, taking care of me, but now it's time for me to be independent."
Kara understood, even though it was hard to accept. After all, she had done the same thing back then, looking for her own path. Now, years later, facing the same situation with her younger brother was more difficult than she had anticipated.
Martha's earlier reaction made sense too. First, it was Kara who left, and now Clark was leaving as well. Jonathan, on the other hand, couldn't help feeling a little sentimental. Before his emotions overwhelmed him, he went outside to sit in the back of his truck, his favorite spot.
Since Kara was a little girl, she had loved sitting there to sunbathe or watch the stars, so Jonathan always kept the space clean, just in case she wanted to sit there whenever she came home.
Kara followed him with a smile, still wearing her mother's apron. She approached and, putting her hand on his broad shoulders, asked playfully:
"What's wrong, Dad? Are you feeling old now that we're leaving?"
Jonathan huffed with a smile. "I'm not that old yet."
Kara laughed, and after a brief silence, she made a suggestion: "What if you sold the farm? You and Mom could move to the city with me. I don't think Clark wants to inherit the farm."
Jonathan looked thoughtful for a moment, but then shook his head firmly.
"This farm has been in our family for five or six generations. I can't let it go to waste in my hands."
"You're so stubborn, Dad," Kara muttered, though she knew there was no changing his mind. Jonathan had lived his entire life here, and this was his refuge, just like it was for her and Clark.
"Besides," Jonathan added, looking at her fondly, "you'll always have another home to come back to if you ever get tired of the big city."
Kara hugged him warmly, but he pulled away a little, uncomfortable.
"You're too old to be hugging your father like a child," he grumbled, though clearly he didn't mind.
Kara rolled her eyes and headed back into the house, leaving Jonathan sitting in the truck, gazing out at the yard where his children used to play.
For the next few weeks, Kara returned to her farm life routine. Every morning, she grabbed the tools and headed out to help with the work. Martha and Jonathan didn't worry about her; they knew Kara was incredibly strong, and farm tasks didn't tire her out.
On the third day, however, Perry White called Kara.
True to her promise, Kara hung up on him more than a dozen times, yet Perry patiently kept calling.
Eventually, Perry resorted to asking Jennifer to deliver the message. Jennifer informed Kara that Gotham was in turmoil due to the sudden appearance of a mysterious vigilante the public had dubbed Batman.
Apparently, the Dark Knight had helped the police capture Carmine Falcone, one of the biggest crime lords in the city. Now, Gotham was divided between those who saw Batman as a hero and those who considered him a criminal.
Perry wanted Kara to cover the story, trusting her skills to write a compelling piece.
Kara, frustrated, called Perry back. "Perry, I'm on vacation. Don't count on me for this."
Perry was left stunned as she hung up. "Who's the boss here?" he muttered to himself.