It was not easy to wake up the next morning. After Margreet got dressed, she looked in the mirror and saw that she had big circles under her eyes. She didn't use makeup, so she had no way of covering it up. Although she didn't feel rested, she was cheerful. She felt like working and this afternoon she was free, so she could rest or go back to reading.

In the kitchen she was welcomed by the delicious smell of pancakes. Annerieke suddenly had a sense of baking a large stack of pancakes this morning. She could also keep the pancakes warm in the trays that kept the food warm in in the evening.

“Hmm, that smells so good Annerieke, what a great idea, I've never had that before, pancakes for breakfast!”

Annerieke laughed at her enthusiasm. “The idea came to my mind this morning when I woke up, so I jumped into a higher gear to get it done. It seems to work, I'm almost done!"

“Good morning ladies!” Huib entered the kitchen.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked Margreet with a frown. “You have considerable bags under your eyes. Or… did you put your makeup on the wrong side?”

“Nicely complimenting, Huib,” Annerieke responded.

Margreet chuckled: “I don't have any makeup, so that's not the point. I've had two not too long nights. The first night was full of all new impressions. The second night was also short, but for a nicer reason. I had borrowed a book from Annerieke, a book with two stories. I started reading and couldn't find the stop button anymore. I already finished the first story! Hence another short night. What a writer Annerieke, she is really great. Although I have to say that there are parts in it that I did not expect. She is a lot freer sexually than I am used to, I was raised so prudishly!”

Another blush flew to her cheeks. She had just blurted it out, and that while Huib was there.

Annerieke, still busy with the last pancake, looked around for a moment: “I understand exactly what you mean. I was not brought up with it that way, but… I recognize it from my life with Erik, he was so free, and in a good way, he was purely focused on me, to be good for me, also in physical contact. And we soon had that, much sooner than I had expected.” Annerieke smiled at the memory. “I remember well that I struggled, that I didn't dare, because I thought that wouldn't be good. Erik then asked me if we belonged together. Well, I had no doubts about that. Then he promised me to wait until I was ready. And with that he helped me across the border, because he took my feelings into account. I was ready, and we didn't wait any longer. Our courtship was not long therefore, but three months. My parents said I hadn't known him for a long time as a man, but I knew I'd always known him. All the months of our courtship had been extra, extra depth, but when he asked me to date, it was already perfectly clear to me that this was the man I wanted to continue with. I didn't have to wait for another. And I've never regretted it! He was a great partner, and a great father to Huib!”

In the meantime Margreet was no longer the only one at the table with blushing cheeks. Huib had felt slightly uncomfortable during this conversation. The fire of longing for Margreet had been stirred up somewhat, and he found that quite difficult, because they were sitting at the table together, with his mother present. Not that he would have wanted to tackle Margreet right away, not like that. She was much too tender for that, even though she was already becoming quite open. He should do it differently, she should trust him, trust him completely, without violating herself.

“Huib?”

"Hey? Oh yes, sure, he was a great father! And you a great mother. I was really lucky to have you, I already knew that in primary school, when I met parents of other children. Both of you sometimes disagreed, both of you were angry sometimes, but you never attacked each other or me. Your anger was pure or something, without malice. Hacking at each other and yet knowing from each other that you didn't mean to hurt each other. I already felt the difference with other parents back then, and I was proud of you. Sorry, I should have told you that much sooner, when Dad was alive…” A dry sob rose from his throat.

Annerieke took the pan from the stove, put her arm around Huibs shoulders: “Thank you dear, but it's not too late. In fact, we've always known about you, even if you didn't say it. We've seen you watch, we've heard your stories of playing afternoons with other kids… and we knew you'd seen the difference. Anyway, I'm glad you experienced it that way. We had a good time together, and now we still have a good time together. And you Margreet, you are part of that too. I already experience a bond with you that is very dear to me.”

Margreet nodded slowly: “It's crazy, I feel it too, but I can't understand it yet. I can't take it. I'm still so convinced that this can't be for me, and yet I feel you've kind of brought me in, that I really belong. Very double!”

Huib put his hand on her hand. "That will be fine, it will take some time."

Annerieke nodded: “I think so too! But I have to take the pancakes to the dining room now, otherwise our guests will only eat bread and all the pancakes will remain…”

Huib and Margreet, both in thoughts, waited quietly for her to return. And they both let out an audible sigh of relief when Annerieke came in, whereupon all three of them burst out laughing.

“We started the day well and a good start is half the battle! Eat well, youngsters!”

To chapter 15. Little one?!

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