They ended up with a big glass of ice cream. Margreet had chosen hazelnut ice cream and Huib had followed her example. Huib confessed to Margreet that this ice cream exceeded all expectations. Really super delicious!

.

"Saturated and invigorated, and considerably thickened," Margreet joked as they got into the pickup. "Actually a stupid phrase, it almost feels like a curse. If you've eaten well, you must be getting thick... Ha, I'll be getting thicker too, not because of the delicious food, but thanks to our baby!"

Huib laughed and drove out of the parking lot. "What a day hey, really special!"

"Yes, I'm happy with those reactions from that pizza chef and that girl. It feels like an affirmation that I'm leaving my youth behind and starting a new life."

"I hadn't even thought of it that way, but I understand your feeling. I was just reminded of that expression that we as Dutch people are supposed to be down-to-earth Dutchmen. That's another kind of curse, it makes us think we should live from our sober minds. Nothing negative about our intellect, but take encounters like the ones today in mind. You can make something of it, it touches you. It is real, it is life!"

In silence they drove home, each with their own thoughts and feelings. It was a perfect silence, a perfect peace.

.

Huib drove the car down the side path to their house, where they unloaded the bike and boxes. "We don't have a shed at the house, I’ve never missed it, my bike is in the big barn, but I rarely use it. It seems to me, also for outdoor toys, it would be handy to make a shed at the house as well. Do you think it's an idea, to make the laundry room big, so that it’s also a shed?"

Margreet nodded, "I don't quite understand what you mean. Make a sketch of it, also with the drying room, then I can see it better, but I think it's a good idea, then you have everything together in one larger space. No unnecessary doors and stuff, nice and easy."

"I will! We've still got an hour, I'll go and make a sketch right away," Huib said when the pickup was empty. "I'll put the car back later."

"Then in the meantime I'm going to tidy up my clothes out of the boxes. I suspect a lot of them can go to the thrift store."

"Just keep a few clothes that you really like, and also a few purely practical ones, for when you want to work in the garden or something. Kind of work clothes... Other clothes you'll make over time, position clothes, those nice wide slobbers!" Huib teased.

"Good idea," Margreet snatched him back, "I'll make them so wide that we can get in them together!"

Huib shot up, pulling her against him. "What a perfect idea, then we'll go through life dancing!"

Margreet shot up in laughter, gave him a kiss on the nose and went into the bedroom. It surprised Margreet, as she took all the clothes out of the box and laid them on the bed, how few were among them that she really liked. She pictured herself with those clothes on and saw the Margreet who had been molded and shaped by her parents, according to their idea. It just didn't fit to who she really was.

Still, she needed a few pairs of them of course, until she would start sewing and knitting more herself. She picked out a few, some pants, skirts, sweaters and blouses and stored them in the spacious wardrobe. Door closed, she actually didn't even want to see them. Somehow she just disliked them, those clothes were so... how should she describe it... so made for everyone at once, as a mass-collection. You could come across dozens of people wearing similar clothes.

Margreet, creative as she was, longed to make her own clothes, and design them herself as well. She had no idea yet how, but that would surely come when she was ready. And Huib or Annerieke would surely be able to help her, if necessary.

She ran down the stairs, and looked over Huib's shoulder for a while, at his sketch of their house, with an idea for the new room attached. Margreet responded enthusiastically to his sketch, "That's it, nice and spacious! When do you think they can start building?"

"No idea, I'll give Simon a call soon. He's great at making precise drawings, planning the purchases and the division of labor, and he enjoys working on the construction himself. He is an all-round builder and participates from the beginning to the end. It will be a mess at the side of the house for a while, but I expect that we will have little trouble inside, at most noise pollution. They're used to going to the toilet at the guesthouse, but if you don't mind, they can use ours, too, as far as I'm concerned."

"Of course, as long as they kick off their dirty shoes here too. I'm curious about that Simon, I don't know why, but it feels like he belongs to us. No idea how. Is he married?"

"No, he lives alone, I don't think he's ever been in a relationship either, maybe a short one once, but never anything more permanent. And I sense that your feeling is correct. It has to do with... no, I'm not giving it away yet, I hope you get more impressions too, then at least I can be sure that what I got in mind is correct."

Margreet laughed and gave him a kiss. "Alright, I'm going to Annerieke now, so I can still help her with the cooking." And so she ran out the door, leaving Huib smiling.

To chapter 101. Big cleanup

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