That evening, at Huib's invitation, Simon came into the kitchen for coffee too. He felt a bit uncomfortable, hadn't seen Annerieke, Huib and Sjaak since Erik's funeral.

The young ladies were completely new to him. However, he was warmly greeted by them. And both Margreet and Lisa quickly took him into their hearts.

Margreet felt again, stronger, that it was about Simon, that he might be a new partner for Annerieke.

After the coffee they walked together towards Sjaak and Lisa's house, because that was where most of the work needed to be done. Annerieke turned off to her own house, the others walked on.

Lisa grabbed Margreet by her arm and held her pace a bit.

"Margreet," she whispered, "what do you think about Simon? I mean actually... I have a feeling that he and Annerieke..."

Margreet nodded and whispered, "Even before I had seen him, when Huib suggested to call him for the construction work, I had the impression that the two of them could go on with each other. I wonder if they have realized it themselves that there is a real connection between them."

They smiled at each other and quickly walked on, following the men. Sjaak had already put his sketch on the dining table. Simon looked at it and glanced at Sjaak: "Your sketch is simple but clear, workable for me. Thank you, you are already taking work out of my hands!"

He let his finger go from room to room on the sketch and looked around the room. For each room, he pointed to the drawing and to the spot in the space where the room above should be. "Handy to plan that bathroom there, it saves plumbing, and it doesn't matter for the layout of the bedrooms. And outside, there you follow the example of the guesthouse with that laundry and drying room. The shed can indeed be combined with the laundry room. It will sometimes block the wind a little, but that won't make much difference to drying your laundry."

He looked at Lisa over his reading glasses. "Beautiful eyes you have, by the way. Rest assured, I'm not one of those flirtatious builders, but when I looked at you, your eyes just caught my eye, that's why!"

He turned his attention back to the drawing, while Sjaak winked at Lisa.

"I'll check the measurements against the blueprint I have of this house to make sure everything fits, but I suspect I don't really need to change anything, Sjaak. I'm just going to develop your sketch into a construction drawing. Do you mind if I take it with me to for that?"

"Yes of course, you need it more than I do," laughed Sjaak.

"You got that right!" Simon laughed and suggested to go to Huib and Margreet's house. There the sketch was already on the table too.

"Here it's only about that extension, upstairs the whole thing is already complete," Huib said.

"Yes, your father was pretty sure you would need the space you have now in the future. You will get busy, Lisa... or were you Margreet, yes, Margreet he, I still have to get used to your names, excuse me."

"It doesn't matter, that will come naturally. And as far as the bustle is concerned: our first child is already on its way, still very young and therefore not visible, but it is there."

"Beautiful, guys, really beautiful! Then it's handy to get your own space back there, then you don't have to go to the guest house with all your baby laundry all the time. Let's see... This is really a sketch by a craftsman, different craftsman than me, but I can see that you do this kind of thing in miniature more often. Actually, it comes down to about the same thing as with Sjaak and Lisa, I see. It is completely clear to me. Can I take your sketch too Huib, then I'll make a construction drawing of that too."

And when Huib nodded, "And shall I order the materials already?"

"Fine! When did you want to start?"

"I've already managed to get enough workers to be able to work on both your houses at the same time. Those guys have a lot less to do in December and January, they were thrilled to be offered this job. We can start as early as December 1, so I have to work hard on the drawings and the orders myself. I know that in the past you had already received permission for the rooms you want to add now, so I don't have to apply for that again, which saves time."

Because everything was clear, Simon rolled both sketches together and said goodbye.

To chapter 111. Simon and Annerieke

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