Lisa was pleased that Margreet and Huib were full of stories about their day. Special stories about a pizza baker and a little girl, touching and fun. She herself could suffice with the fact that she had moved her things from the attic and some of her boxes of clothes. And when Margreet asked if she had any plans for the evening, she was able to say that she was continuing to unpack. Margreet indicated that she was going to do the same herself.

Huib reported that he had called Simon. Simon was not busy during the month of December. He would coordinate with some other builders, so they could make a start as soon as possible. He could come by tomorrow evening, to discuss with Sjaak and Lisa and with Margreet and himself their building ideas.

Sjaak responded, "I'll discuss what we think is important with Lisa later this evening, and then make a building sketch. Is that okay with you too Lisa?"

Lisa nodded, "Let's do that yes, and while you work out our ideas in a sketch, I'll continue unpacking and cleaning up in the meantime."

"Did you bring your violin and cello too?" Annerieke asked Lisa.

Lisa nodded enthusiastically, "Yes indeed, the cello has been given a place next to the piano and the violin on a towel on the piano for now. I'll see if I can find a rug for it."

"I'm going to the thrift store tomorrow morning after coffee, when I've hung up the laundry, fancy coming along?" Margreet asked.

Lisa brightened at the prospect. She nodded with a smile, "Let's do it, it'll be fun! Maybe we'll even see Elly!"

"Elly is coming to my place tonight, picking up our old friendship," Annerieke responded.

"Fun for you, mom, Elly is a nice woman!" Huib thought.

Annerieke nodded affirmatively, she was looking forward to it, an evening together with her former friend.

.

After cleaning up everyone went his way, except Huib, he was still a bit hesitant. He had asked Margreet to walk towards home, he would come soon.

"Well, tell me what's on your mind," Annerieke started.

"Hmm, you got me! It's short and sweet, and I don't know who it's about, but it came to my mind so strongly just now that Dad would want you to stay happy Mom, and that that might also mean starting a new relationship if you meet the right man. That’s what I had on my mind, other than that you can puzzle it out for yourself."

Annerieke, familiar with the words with certainty Erik and Huib received from within, smiled at him kindly, thanking him for sharing it with her. "I wouldn't know at this point who that could possibly be. I'm not going to search for it either, not going to ask myself at every single man if that would be the one."

"No, of course not," Huib interrupted. "The point is, if you meet the right man, you don't have to hang on to Dad. He was the one, but maybe not the only one. You know what I mean?"

Annerieke smilingly put her hands on her son's shoulders: "You put that perfectly, I understand you completely, and I thank you for giving me permission in advance."

"Mom, I think this goes beyond permission, it's not about my permission, you don't need it. It's about your choice to enter into a relationship with whom you have, or get that special click."

"I feel the difference, nice that you're encouraging me like that, that you have my happiness in mind."

"Good, then I'll go now, I'll make a start on the dresser."

"Nice, make something beautiful again! See you later with the coffee!"

Huib first walked home to ask Margreet if she needed help with anything. "No, I don't think so, I'll clean up the last few things and then go knitting. What did you want to do?"

"Getting a start on the dresser, so if you need me, you can find me in the barn."

"By the way, what was just going on? Why did you stay behind in the kitchen?"

"I had a very strong impression for mom..." Huib shared what they had discussed.

"Do you think she would dare to get back into a relationship so soon?"

"Honey, I have no idea, it could also take months. But I think, that in her way, by consciously going through the pain and sorrow, she has already processed a lot about dad's accident and death. She will always miss him in some way, I expect. I guess that's true for me, too. I do think at some point it becomes more of a memory than a loss. For her, too..."

"That just might be the case," Margreet replied. "I just don't feel like it's going to last for months. Well, I wasn't ready for a relationship at all either. I had a different reason than Annerieke, but just the same, it's a miracle that we're already living together and expecting a baby. So who knows..."

"No months? What are you referring to?"

Margreet laughed, "Just wait, I'm not saying anything!"

Huib pulled a silly face: "That's mean... Then I'll just go to my wood shack! See you later darling!"

Margreet gave him a hand kiss and went to work on her moving boxes. So far, it wasn't too bad for her. In retrospect, she hardly had any emotional attachment to all that stuff.

When she was done, she folded the last moving box and put it against the wall in the hobby room. They could take those to the barn of the guesthouse later.

To chapter 104. Like a hunted animal

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