Jim looked at his watch anxiously. Surely Mary should be home by now. But there was no sign of her. Jim was getting hungry. It was after two o'clock and he'd made some really nice sandwiches and sliced up some fresh fruit. He'd filled the jug ready to make tea or coffee and set out the mugs.

Suddenly he had a thought and disappeared out the back door returning presently with a lovely bunch of flowers, shuffled through the cupboards for a vase, filled it with fresh water and did his best to arrange the flowers, they did not look very good he admitted to himself, managed one more time then gave up. The fine arts had never been part of his agenda but the perfume was great and they added a certain something to the table.

Still no sign of Mary, and now the hunger overwhelmed everything else and he sat down to enjoy his sole repast.

Jim just hadn't thought too much about what married life would be like and he was not prepared for the loneliness he suffered in Mary's house when she wasn't there.

He'd been so focused on the idea of sharing her very comfortable bed when they were married and all else had eluded his mind.

He eyed off Mary's sandwiches but felt he had best not eat them, he'd made such an ass of himself yesterday and Mary, in her own quiet way had let him know it. But to-day was going to be different.

At last he heard the key in the door, it was now past 3 and he rushed along the hall to greet her ready to give her a huge hug and a sensuous kiss, instead he rushed into her artworks and equipment and was immediately handed some to carry as he followed Mary to her little art nook where she kept all of these things.

He steered her into the kitchen and she started to laugh. This made him feel very self conscious. "You goose" she said, I had lunch with my friends and quickly set about arranging the flowers more decoratively.

Jim sat himself down, finished off the sandwiches and polished off the fruit, while Mary made them both teas. The cats burst in to greet her and it struck Jim that they got more attention than he did.

His appetite appeased at last he steered Mary to the Lounge took her in his arms and did what any self respecting newly married male would do, kissing her soundly.

She snuggled into his arms and they lay there together for quite some time, joined by the cats who found them great play things.

"Why didn't you tell me you would not be home for lunch"

"I thought you knew, I always have lunch with my group," it was something to which Jim had given little thought.

"So what have you been doing with yourself? you were asleep when I left"

"I got up and showered and dressed and then got lunch" "Oh, but I made the bed"

"And what about your washing?"

"I thought you'd do that".

"No, I did mine yesterday, don't tell me it's still lying there in the suitcase?" and when Jim nodded Mary pushed him off the lounge and said he had better get on with it as he was at home all day and had plenty of time to do it himself.

"The flowers are lovely" she called after him as he went through the door.

She giggled happily to herself as she heard him in the laundry, no doubt trying to work out how to use the washing machine. Presently she heard it start up and he returned, no doubt having figured out how to use it.

"Would you say our is a modern marriage" Jim enquired tentatively.

"Not particularly" but I'm sure it will certainly be different, living in two houses when most couples live in only one.

"Hm mm" replied Jim, he was still coming to grips with that.

"So what's for tea?" said Mary. And Jim not wanting a repeat of the previous day grabbed his car keys and raced out the door, calling as he went, "I'm just off to do the shopping now"

Mary put her feet up on the lounge and closed her eyes for a quick snooze. When she woke up she wandered out to find Jim preparing a stew, for which he'd got a recipe off the Internet. His shopping still lay on the table and regarding it casually Mary asked what they'd be eating the next few days.

"I guess you'll figure that out as you have this afternoon and to-morrow off"

Their marriage, it seemed, had got off to a very haphazard start.

She left Jim to his own devices and went to the bedroom where Jim's suitcase lay on the floor still, this time free of his washing, but as yet his other things stayed unpacked.

She looked at the bed. It had been made but lacked a woman's touch and she attended to that before going downstairs to join Jim in the kitchen, where he was concentrating on what he was doing.

So Mary set the dining room table and wandered into the spare room where Jim's parents had delivered all the wedding presents while they were on their Honeymoon.

She started to open them and had ready a booklet to write down who had given them what so she could send thank you notes but then she realized Jim would perhaps like to share that activity so she joined him again in the kitchen. By this time everything was in the saucepan and Jim had started to clear the table, not knowing where to put things, Mary had always done it before.

He opened and closed cupboard doors and put things away as best he could. He had a few things which needed to be put in the frig and he wondered just where he should place them. Mary offered no help whatsoever. Jim found this all a little odd.

Surprisingly Jim's meal turned out quite well, he'd forgotten about green vegetables and Mary said that next time he should cook some.

They chatted on happily during their meal and each agreed they really did need to talk about chores and communicating regularly with each other not leaving everything to chance.

Jim mentioned as casually as he could that he'd like to arrange a golf game on Saturday but this would cut short the last week of their honeymoon and Mary refused point blank, with two houses it was just not going to work.

"We must look for a closer venue for you" said Mary and said she felt sure that there would be a local golf course which may require membership but she was certain this little village would nominate him quite happily.

Mary showed Jim how she kept her cupboards and arranged her frig and then Jim was ready for his favourite TV show, but Mary reminded him about his washing and his unpacked bag so despondently he went off to put things in the dryer and put his things away, returning to ask Mary which parts of the cupboard and bathroom were his while Mary carried on watching HER favourite program.

Somehow, Jim realized he was turning into a first class wimp and he did not like it one little bit.

Wednesday was their day, no work, no art classes and the day was bright and sunny with scarcely a cloud in sight.

Soon they were speeding along the country roads with Jim at the wheel, glad to feel the man of the partnership at last, they went further inland than they had previously explored together and discovered a beautiful golf course.

It was part of a country club and did, indeed, require membership but Jim enquired about being nominated by some of the local farmers he knew and it was agreed if he could secure their nomination his membership would be assured.

Jim felt very happy, this was close enough for him to slip off on his own on a weekend and return at a reasonable time to Mary's.  Weekends were to be spent in the village as they had previously discussed.

Once that was over and Jim had secured a membership application they were invited to have lunch at the club if they wished which was really too good an offer to refuse, neither of them had felt like preparing a picnic.

Over lunch they discussed how they would have to stop thinking of their homes as his and hers but as ours, and Jim wanted to spend some time exploring potential properties in the area which in the future may provide them with a shared house.

Mary was not so keen and said that if they didn't have children she couldn't see anything wrong with the present arrangements.  Jim grimaced but held his tongue.  There was no way he was going to give up his "balls', crude as the expression was and Mary must accept that she was a married woman now, no longer a single.

They looked at barren ground and richer pastures and at various country homes.  Mary was not too happy with what she saw but it would be much closer to Jim's work and he'd not have to spend too much time travelling.

Jim was quietly determined.  He wanted to be the man in this relationship and shoulder his responsibilities proudly.  He could wait.  At work he was expecting a promotion soon and that might just change their thinking.

On the way home they called into a country pub and had a light meal, which left them time with each other on their return and then they would do a lot of talking about things which they really ought to have discussed before their marriage but it had taken a whirlwind of activity to get the wedding arrangements ready in time and everything else had been rather neglected.

Jim found it quite hard to express his feelings and points of view but he did so in a none threatening and quiet way and Mary responded accordingly.

They really had had a very productive day.

The rest of the week passed quickly, with Mary needing to work Thursday to catch up with things that had not been done while she was away, spending half the day at the Doctor's and the other half at the Vet's then it was work again on Friday and she arrived home on schedule on Friday afternoon ready for a great final weekend of their honeymoon.

They did some more driving and looking and dined out to save domestic duties before Jim took off very early for work, knowing he'd probably be late as they were not a bit organized and he needed to get a fresh shirt and work suit and must call into his own home before leaving for work.  As he left he put some money aside for Mary, saying that was her housekeeping money despite her protests about having enough money of her own, Jim was going to show his credentials as a husband at least by providing housekeeping.  Although he knew little about Mary's money, he knew that he wanted to be a man not a sycophant.

He did arrive at work late, but as it was the first day after returning from his honeymoon no-one was at all surprised and his lateness virtually went unnoticed.

He was a married man, with a lovely wife.  Jim felt well blessed and relieved his bachelor days were over.  He had waited a long time.