Huib and Margreet used the afternoon to do some shopping for the movie nights.

"Sjaak and Lisa were going to take care of the chairs tonight, but they have already had a hard day. We have plenty of time, shall we take care of those chairs?"

Margreet nodded. Together they brought the chairs from their dining table and from Annerieke to their living room. Huib searched for the movie and put it ready on his computer, so he only had to start it tonight. And Margreet meanwhile put a lot of glasses ready on the dining table.

Meanwhile Sjaak was working in the garden and Lisa picked up her cello. She hadn't played it for a while. She smiled when she noticed that it was quite dusty and out of tune. She decided to give it a loving major overhaul. She cleaned the instrument, tightened her bow and ran it through the rosin a bit more than usual. Then she tuned the strings.

When the sound of each string was to her liking, she sat down easily, on the piano stool. She began simply, a slow melody. Unnoticed, the fingers of her left hand practiced finding the right places to press the strings. As she played, she noticed that she hadn't really lost it, and she was glad of that. She enjoyed the deep, full sound of her instrument and began to fantasize more and more from within. She lived life to the fullest, from minor, to major. And finally she let the bow dance across the strings in a joyful battle march. Without consciously realizing that she felt the same way, combative and optimistic, cheerful and longing, she played on.

Outside Sjaak ceased his work, Huib, Margreet and Annerieke joined him, all lured by and under the spell of Lisa's music. They didn't speak a word, only smiled or winked at each other. They were listening, enjoying this beautiful concert.

When it became silent, all four heaved a clearly audible sigh.

"She sounds good," Annerieke thought, "especially in that last part. She battles, but not dejectedly, she battles with passion, for herself and for others. She sounds hopeful. What do you guys think, is that right?"

Sjaak nodded, "I can't put it better moms, that's exactly what I felt."

Annerieke looked at him in surprise, her mouth open. Sjaak shot up in laughter, "If you adopt Lisa and me as your daughter and son, you'll be my moms. And I think that's great! I hope that doesn't make you jealous, Huib!"

"Jealous? Definitely not, I think it's wonderful! I know how much she would have loved to have had more children, hey moms, and I more siblings... and now we have them!" Huib wrapped his arms around his mother and did a silly round dance with her.

"Sweet darlings, what a delight! Ah look, there Lisa comes too, come join us girl, then our family will be complete!"

They wrapped their arms around each other so that they formed a circle, heads facing each other.

"Lisa, we enjoyed your music, thank you!" shared Sjaak the feelings of the group. "Is it true that you felt hopeful, combative and happy?"

Lisa looked up in surprise. "That's exactly what it was, how special that you felt that way."

"We all felt that," Sjaak replied, "and moms put it into words beautifully for us."

"Moms...," Lisa seemed to taste the word. "Sounds good, even when you say it like that."

Annerieke smiled, "This moms is going to the kitchen, continue preparing dinner. Thank you so much for your love youngsters, I feel super rich!"

Annerieke embraced each one and left with Margreet towards the guest house.

"I'll quickly... no quietly... get the laundry done, and then I'll come and help you," Margreet said.

"That’s fine, indeed take it easy! See you!" Annerieke waved briefly and walked on to the kitchen, while Margreet went to work in the drying room. Lovely, such a large table in the laundry room, she thought a little later, that would be a good idea for our own laundry room as well. And in her mind she could already see herself folding rompers and other baby clothes there. What an idea, she still had so many months to wait for the baby...

To chapter 129. Annerieke shares from her heart

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