Glad I am not marrying you!

The van juddered to a halt at the side of the road.

         “I told you to get petrol twenty minutes ago.” Sian said

James thumped the steering wheel, knowing that the nearest petrol station was half an hour away on foot.

         “This is to be the beginning of a new life,”Sian said, “lets hope we aren’t starting as we mean to go on!”

         “Lets go to the house first. Then we can deal with the van situation.” James said



The estate agent was already at the new house when James and Sian arrived. Sian apologised as they went through all the details, before returning to the van.

“What now?” Sian said



She felt excited as she was the first person to use the key at the new house. She got the bag that contained the kettle, mugs, tea and coffee and opened the door. The sound of her footsteps ecoed in the empty kitchen.



“I’ll make us a brew.” Sian said.



“No time for a brew. Come on lets get this van unloaded.” James went outside.



After living in a flat for five years, Sian was glad to have a house, especially with a small child. She dreamed of the days that she could let him play in the garden and she could have peace and quiet. There was the gate to sort first. A sigh escaped her as she slumped against the kitchen work surface. This was the best day of her life so far, yet also the most stressful. She was running a list of things to be done through her mind. When everything was unpacked, she could write the list down. Sian watched as James went through the living room with a box.



The house was a hive of activity, and eventually James left to go and get the second, then third loads. There was a bottle of sparkling wine waiting to be opened this evening, in their new home. James arrived back with the final load of the day. The unpacking was taking longer than she had expected. She had planned to be waiting with a cup of tea in her hand every time that the men arrived back, but as James had packed boxes before furniture, she found that there was nowhere to put the contents of most boxes. This load was sure to contain furniture. James hauled Sians double bed in through the back door. Sian smiled, imaginingcurling up with the man she loved every night in that bed.



Finally, all the furniture was in and she could start unpacking properly. They had even remembered the sofa.



“Needed somewhere to slump tonight did you?” Sian smiled and nodded at the sofa.



“I can remember the essentials you know.” James said



“I’m kidding with you. I knew you would bring something to sit on.” She glanced at the ring on her wedding finger. It sparkled and shone in the light. “What am I marrying into?”



“Fine Sian. If you don’t want to marry into this, go now. No one is forcing you.” James said



“What is up with you James? You are so evil tonight.”



“Maybe lugging all your furniture about all day has made me just that little bit tired? Do you never think of anyone but yourself? I can’t believe that I will be related to you one day.”



“That’s not fair. I am grateful for your help with all this. But if you don’t want to be related to me one day, by blood or marriage, why don’t you do something about it?” Sian stormed into the kitchen.



She could not believe the things he had said. If Adam had been here today, he would have gone up the wall. He was good like that. Never let anyone say a bad thing about her, always fighting her corner even when she was in the wrong.



“Not much I can do is there. It’s not my choice to make. Are you putting the kettle on?”James shouted.

Sian stormed into the living room where James was sitting on the sofa, playing with Aidan. “Why don’t you put the kettle on? I have not just been sat around all day you know. For starters I haven’t had anything to sit o-”

“Boxes.” James said



“Maybe so. However, I have been trying to sort out the boxes I am supposed to have been sitting on all day. OK?” James got to his feet and went into the kitchen.



Sian heard the low hum as the kettle started to boil. Slumped in the sofa she again admired her newly acquired engagement ring.



James reappeared and leant on the back of the sofa. “Sian, I’m so sorry. It has been really stressful today.”



“You’re telling me. I am truly grateful for the help, but I am glad it is your brother I am marrying, not you. I miss him. I can’t wait for him to come home.” Sian giggled and playfully punched James on his arm.



“Where is Adam with his beloved coach this time?”



“Austria. He will be home the day after tomorrow though.” Sian said.

James went into the kitchen and made the drinks, leaving Sian on the sofa admiring her engagement ring.