Chapter 14 - The Cathedral of Glass
Callum followed, nervous as hell, not sure what Julian meant by try not to freak out, but as he stepped through the door and entered the room, the best words he could find to fit the moment were…. “Oh my God.”
He stopped dead in his tracks, his heart pounding so hard, he thought he would possibly faint.
He knew Julian was rich, but this was beyond anything he could have imagined.
The apartment was not just an apartment; it was a vast cathedral-like space, with ceilings that had to be twenty feet high.
He didn’t take in the detail, because far opposite his focus was immediately stolen by two walls of floor-to-ceiling glass, affording the most spectacular views of the Brooklyn Bridge, set against the dramatic sunset, now purple with the last streaks of red fading to bright orange, like some epic Turner painting.
The bridge felt close enough to touch and filled the view, with Brooklyn visible across the river.
He looked at Julian but couldn’t stop himself.
“Oh my God” again was all he could squeeze out of his mouth as he gestured with his hands at the view.
His mouth was dry; he couldn’t swallow. He dropped Julian’s hand and walked over to the window.
He passed a kitchen area, a huge dining table and other sofas and furniture, but he ignored all that; he just had to get to this view, close up. It was everything to him.
His years of studying photography, a life spent living in this city where the bridge and Brooklyn meant so much to him, and a subject he’d snapped from almost every angle.
He remembered the small gift he’d brought Julian; the bridge was at the end of the street in the photograph.
Everything was aligned here. Was this too much of a coincidence?
He knew that this moment was somehow a pivotal one in his life.
Impromptu tears pricked his eyes, his shoulders sagged, and he just sobbed.
Julian found him, coming from behind and wrapped his arms around his shoulders.
He didn’t fully understand the cause of Callum’s tears, but he hoped they were from a happy place.
This was the first time he’d seen Callum cry, and as Julian wiped away his tears, he felt deeply inside how precious Callum had already become to him.
“Sorry, I’m being silly, it’s just that bridge has been such an anchor in my life.
I’m obsessed with it,” he explained. “I’ve taken hundreds of pictures of it, walked it so many times, I can see it from my apartment roof and go there on New Year’s Eve with my friends to watch the fireworks.
It’s just been such an important part of my life; it really does mean a lot to me.
” He was genuine and every word rang true with Julian.
“To then come here, see all this, and,” he turned to the view again, “see all this,” he gestured to the bridge, “it was just too much. I’m sorry.
The things I’m thinking and feeling,” he banged his chest on his heart, “you and me, us, this, it’s just too many coincidences; it has to mean something. ”
“Ssshhhhh.” Julian pulled him in, seeing he was getting upset again.
“I think you’re wrong, Cal,” he said gently, as Callum pulled away from him slightly, wanting to understand what he meant.
“I don’t think any of this is a coincidence; I think it’s fate, my love.
I’m a great believer in fate. He gestured to the two of them.
“This is our fate, Cal. I think we are meant to be.” He placed his hand over Callum’s heart now.
Callum felt the warmth of his touch through his shirt.
“The universe brought you to me, Cal, for a reason, and when the universe speaks, I think the least we can do is listen.”
These words were powerful to Callum. He’d been secretly thinking about futures and whether they could work out as a couple, coming from such different places.
So, to hear this, which was Julian pretty much expressing how he felt, was music to Callum’s ears.
Also, he used the word love, and that didn’t go unnoticed.
Julian tightened his grip around him, giving him warmth, reassurance and comfort, and they just hugged for a while as the light faded slowly before their eyes.
Their silhouette became just another elongating shadow stretching across the shiny marble floor, as the sun set and the darkness of night arrived.
When they parted, Callum remembered, “I brought you a little gift somewhere,” thinking this was the perfect moment, but where had the bag gone?
“Ah, it’s here,” Julian replied, scooting over to a small table he’d placed it on. He retrieved it and mimed lifting the weight with a quizzical look on his face, as he handed it dutifully over to Callum.
“This is a bottle of wine; God knows if it’s any good,” he said, passing it to Julian.
“Ah, Malbec. I do like a nice full-bodied Malbec,” he said, giving Callum a little peck on the cheek.
Callum then pulled out the little gift, passing it to Julian. He put the bag down and popped the wine back in it. He felt the package. He looked at Callum, “Okay, I’m not sure what this is.”
“It’s really nothing, just a little surprise for you. Open it” said Callum.
Julian moved to the nearest of the white leather sofas. He sat and carefully placed it on his knees. Callum joined him, watching in amusement, desperately hoping he would like it.
Julian carefully undid the knot of the bow and took off the twine. “Nice finishing touch,” he said, miming a chef’s kiss. He then carefully unwrapped the present, peeling the tape so slowly that it was taking too long.
“Oh, just rip it for heaven’s sake,” said Callum. He laughed.
Julian complied and tore the packet wide open. This exposed the frame in its bubble wrap, rear side up. Julian looked at Callum, then back at the frame, turning it over as he took it out of the wrap.
The moment he saw the photo, he smiled. It was a perfect gift, especially after the conversation they’d just had. He loved the photo when he saw it at Callum’s apartment, so it was such a thoughtful gift to give him, now with multiple meanings.
“Wow, that is perfect, Cal, just perfect. I will treasure this forever.” He turned to him and kissed him. “I really do mean it. I love it.”
Julian walked over to a low white unit by the window and carefully placed the picture there in front of the bridge. He stepped back. Yes, he liked it there.
Callum looked around. The space was huge, but there weren’t many small things like that in it. No wonder Julian had been fascinated by all Callum’s junk; completely the opposite of his place. Callum wanted to explore.
“So, this is where you live,” he said, gesturing to all the space. “I mean, I knew you were rich, but this? This is Bond-villain territory. I think my whole apartment building could fit in your living room.”
“Trust me, Cal, it’s just space,” he said. “Believe me, it feels much bigger and very empty when I’m rattling around it on my own. It’s nice to have you here with me.”
Callum wanted to explore the apartment, finally wanting to understand it all.
The seating area was on a slightly lower level, with a curved step down to the windows. While it was a huge space, and very grand, it was also practical.
The seating area, with white leather sofas in a huge U-shaped configuration, pointed directly at the view.
How lovely it would be to just sit there, relax, and watch the sunset, thought Callum.
Across from the sofa area there was an unusual modern picture which needed a closer look later, was it a Banksy?
Callum wondered., it looked like his style?
There was a small desk with a Mac computer, and a couple of comfortable brown leather and metal pilot chairs near a large fireplace and a huge bookcase that was packed, again demanding a later look.
The floors were seamless marble, creating light and space. The whole place would be blinding during the day, thought Callum. Is that practical? He couldn’t see any blinds or curtains or any way of covering the windows; could people see in? he wondered.
The kitchen area was large, with marble countertops and light grey glossy cupboards. There were stainless steel appliances, refrigerator and freezer, he assumed. There were ovens and a microwave, coffee makers, all the usual stuff, but ultra-modern, stylish and spotlessly clean.
The marble island within the kitchen area was almost the same size as his whole living room, with bar seating along one side.
The sinks and taps were fancy. Across the room was the dining area with a table for, he counted, just twelve people.
It had three hanging lights, modern chandeliers, nothing old-fashioned.
In fact, the whole style of this space was ultra-modern, minimalist, and chic; the marble flooring made it look Italian in style.
He loved it. It was so very different to his apartment.
As he wandered around, Julian followed quietly behind him, letting him explore at his own pace. He was interested in what Callum thought, but the one thing he didn’t want to do was to overwhelm him.
Julian knew he had a lot, and he’d been very lucky in life, but the last thing he wanted was to scare Callum away.
In fact, he wanted the exact opposite, for Callum to think more about the life he could have by his side.
Again, he knew he was racing ahead, but at this moment, being with Cal was his only future.
When he sensed that Callum had seen the space, he took his hands in his own once again. “Thank you for coming. It only seemed fair after I visited you this morning.”
“I almost turned around twice. Your security guy, Markus? He has a very effective ‘I will bury your body parts in the woods’ face. I actually texted my friend Sophia your address just in case you were a high-end serial killer.”
They laughed, Julian letting out another real belly laugh. He leaned in, arms around his lower back, and gave him several little kisses along his jawline first, then properly on his lips.