Where You Are

London

Jesse

'Uncle Jesse!'

Immediately upon my arrival at Mum and Dad's for Sunday lunch, I was accosted by several small projectiles, as per usual. My little niece and three nephews. The youngest niece was still a bit young to understand that me being at Sunday lunch meant they got presents. Especially if I was still wearing my pilot's uniform, like I was now.

'What did you bring us?' Ella, the oldest, asked, peeling herself away from me.

'Oh, that's nice!' I scoffed. 'No, how was your trip, Uncle Jesse? Can I take your bag, Uncle Jesse? Just straight to what did you bring me? Well, the joke's on you, I didn't bring anything back except for some dirty pants!'

'Eww!!' They crinkled up their little faces and I couldn't help but laugh. 'Uncle Jesse!'

'I'm only joking, here,' I unzipped my bag and tossed them a handful of the maple sugar candies I knew they loved. I loved them, too, I'd had to practice remarkable self-restraint in order to save some for the children.

'I'll take your bag, Uncle Jesse!' Marcus grabbed my black, leather bag that was still hanging on my shoulder and pulled it off.

And then, they were gone, the other three following Marcus, giggling the whole way. Undoubtedly, they would find the rest of the maple sugar candies I'd brought for them before long.

'Isn't that nice? Sugar right before supper!' Stuart strode into the corridor and rolled his eyes at me. 'I can't wait until you have children, I have all sorts of plans for them.'

'Is that right?' I grinned, taking off my jacket and hat. 'It's nice to see you, too, big brother! I brought you something as well, I had an unexpected flight to LA, I've got some of that bourbon that you like.'

'Alright, you're forgiven,' he said quickly.

'It's just in the boot,' I nodded outside.

'Is that my baby boy?' I heard Mum's voice and I groaned. Even though I was over thirty, I was still her baby boy.

'I thought Sam was your baby boy now,' I told her as she came into view, her greying hair cropped short and her stained apron on. Just the same as always.

'Never,' she grinned and took my face in her hands, pulling my head down to kiss my cheek. 'You'll always be my baby boy. Now come on inside, you're just in time.'

I greeted my other brother Luke, his wife, Morgan, and Stuart's wife, Liz. Stuart had slipped outside, probably to the boot of my car and I couldn't blame him. Then, when he returned with a few glasses of the bourbon to pass around, we sat down and ate.

'So, where were you this time?' Mum asked after everyone had tucked in.

'America,' I shrugged. 'Well, back and forth between Canada a few times, then LA, back to Toronto and now I'm here.'

'Did you have a nice journey?' She asked.

'Yeah, only because I was the one flying the airplane,' I laughed.

'Uncle Jesse, who's the pretty lady on your mobile?'

My heart stopped. Shit, I forgot I'd left my phone in my bag instead of in my pocket. I'd changed the lock screen to the last photo Birgitta had sent me because I thought she'd looked so cute with her hair in a messy knot and the Disney princesses on her top. I never considered that someone else might see it. I'd planned on changing it to something more boring before I returned, but I'd completely forgotten about it until now.

I wheeled around. Ella was holding up my mobile with the photo in question on display for everyone else to see.

'Oh! Er... that's my new friend, Birgitta,' I quickly explained. I made to grab the mobile, but she shifted suddenly so it was facing her again.