Chapter 30 - A Family Affair #2
“Well, it was as much a surprise to me as to you son,” she started.
“I was sitting here on Wednesday when the phone rang and this posh voice said he was Julian. At first I didn’t know who he was, but then I remembered you’d mentioned a Julian.
Anyway, he introduced himself and said he knew you’d not been able to get to see us for a while, and he wanted to bring you on Sunday, if that was ok.
He was so polite and well-mannered, and he has a lovely speaking voice.
We jumped at the chance, so we rang Andrew and just got it all arranged.
” She was talking as she worked, Callum helping out along with Virginia, who was transferring vegetables from cooking dishes into serving bowls.
“Did it take you an age to get here, though, Callum, you must have set off really early?”
Hmm, do I tell them about the helicopter? Callum hesitated for a split second, not wanting to sound brash or flashy. Honesty is the best policy, he decided, sheepishly replying, “Err… we actually came by helicopter, so it only took an hour.”
Both women stopped what they were doing and said in unison, “A helicopter!”
They couldn’t believe what they were hearing. “Whose helicopter?” Veronica asked.
“Well, I’m not sure, but it’s probably Julian’s,” was all Callum could say. “I don’t know, to be honest, you’d have to ask Julian.”
The women rolled their eyes and laughed, his mom muttering, “ Remind me later, Virginia, to ask Julian whose helicopter it is.”
Lunch was great. Everyone enjoyed pot roast with homemade gravy and vegetables cooked alongside the meat, with steamed green beans and a salad. Virginia had made apple crumble pie for dessert, which went down very well, especially with the children.
During the meal, conversation flowed freely, mostly geared towards the family getting to know Julian, and also catching up with Callum’s latest exploits.
His parents asked about the gym and how that was going.
Julian noted that Callum gave a positive spin on things, mentioning the community fun day, which Julian happily joined in on.
His mom asked if he was still dancing in ‘that awful club’…
clearly something she wasn’t too happy about.
Callum said yes he was, and that he still loved dancing there.
He gave a wink to Julian, remembering the rather hot night they’d shared there.
Callum and Andrew took the lead in clearing plates, letting the others continue their conversation. Once he got Callum on his own in the kitchen, he caught up with him privately.
“So, you and Julian are…? Question left open-ended.
“In a relationship.” Callum shrugged. “Started out training him, mutual attraction, dated, became a couple.”
“When was this then? I’d not really heard about Julian last time we spoke?”
“It’s only been a few months, Andrew, but it feels longer,” Callum explained.
“So, this might just be a short-term thing then, I mean, it’s not certain that it’ll work out?” Andrew was similarly fishing.
“Oh, I think it’ll work out; I’m pretty sure of that,” Callum reassured his brother.
He and Andrew were close growing up, and he’d always been protective of Callum. He was just checking things out. He wasn’t prone to being negative, but he had been there in the past when previous relationships went south, so he was probably just being cautious.
“I hope so bro, seems like a nice guy. Just be careful. You know what these city types can be like. Mom said you flew down here in a helicopter. Has she got that confused, or what?”
“Nope, she’s right, we did,” Callum confirmed. Why was everyone so fixated on the bloody helicopter?
“Whose is the helicopter then? “Like a charter hire or what?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Callum added, “everyone seems obsessed with the bloody helicopter!” He walked back into the dining room. “Julian, please can you answer the burning question that everyone is so fascinated to know? The helicopter we flew down in, is that yours or is it chartered?”
The room fell silent, all eyes on Julian.
“It’s my helicopter, but I just don’t use it very often,” Julian said. “Why?”
“My family is obsessed with the bloody helicopter,” Callum added, with a laugh.
At this point, the two boys started shouting that they wanted to go in Uncle Julian’s helicopter, screaming “Please” at the top of their voices, jumping up and down.
“Maybe, one day, if you behave,” Callum said, looking to Julian.
“Maybe today,” Julian replied, looking to Callum and Andrew in turn.
“They could travel back to Manhattan with us, and then I can get one of the guys to drive you back in the car, as long as you have the time for the round trip. We only have approved flight plans for a single return journey, and it’s impossible to change that on a weekend.”
At this the two boys went into overdrive. There was no way Andrew could refuse. Callum mouthed sorry to Virginia, but she just waved; it wasn’t an issue.
They drank coffee out on the back porch, whilst the boys, Andrew and Julian, played a game of rounders with a soft ball and mini bats. Callum sat between his mom and his dad, Virginia still clearing up inside.
“He seems like a decent guy, Cal.You picked a good one.” His mom said, contented.
“Yup, I approve. Good, strong handshake and honest eyes you daren’t argue with,” his dad added.
“He is a big guy, Cal. Is that your training?” His mom asked.
“Oh no, I can’t take credit for all that,” Callum replied.
“That’s years of keeping fit and time he spent in the S.A.S.
back in the UK. We do two classes a week at the moment.
Julian has got a photo shoot for the cover of a magazine in a few weeks, so he’s got to be in peak physical condition for that. ”
“Wow,” was all his mom could muster. He saw her and his dad make eyes at each other.
Callum could see they were impressed by Julian and how he and Callum were happy together.
Several times during the day, they had kissed, and no one reacted adversely, or as if it were anything other than any couple showing affection.
Callum was proud of his parents, but it hadn’t always been so easy.
When he first came out, they had taken it badly, especially his dad.
But once they saw that he was ok, and that this was just who he was, they were supportive, and then always had been.
It hadn’t changed their relationship; if anything, it had brought them closer together.
So, days like this, getting to see them and his brother, sharing family normality, meant the world to Callum.
These were precious times, and it was all thanks to Julian.
Time came to say goodbye around 3 pm. Julian had calculated that the flight back from Springfield would take about an hour, but the drive back for Andrew and the boys would be 2 hrs 40 mins, so to get them back for baths before bed and ready for school the next morning, they would need to leave at 3 p.m.
They said their goodbyes. Virginia decided to stay with Callum’s parents, whilst Andrew and the boys would join them in the helicopter.
They loved the G-Wagon when it turned up.
They loved the helicopter when they saw it at the airfield.
They loved taking off and being flown. They loved being able to talk to each other on the headsets. A very good time was had by all.
Callum and Julian sat on one side, watching Andrew, Rufus and Max on the other. Callum took delight in seeing how much the boys loved the whole experience. He held Julian’s hand tight and lifted it to kiss it, mouthing thank you.
The boys were fascinated by landing on the building roof, and Julian even got Markus to lower the helipad, so they could experience that and the closing roof before they departed.
Callum hugged his brother tightly and then gave big uncle kisses to the boys, before they headed out in the G-Wagon for the longer trip home.
They walked back through the penthouse, and Callum took Julian’s hand into his own. “That was a really special day, Julian. It meant a lot to me that you organised all that. What made you do it?”
“We had a free day, and I knew you’d not seen your folks for a while, so I thought it would be a nice surprise. I’m glad it all worked out well. You know, anything for you, my handsome BF.” Callum wrapped his arms around him and kissed him in thanks.
They spent their evening relaxing, Julian observing things about Callum and his relationship with his family, laughing at the old photos of him he now had stored on his phone and generally reflecting on their day.
They fell asleep later, tightly wrapped together.