Page 79 of The Titan and the Trainer

“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.