Huib had suspected right: Sjaak had seen Huib and Simon busy together about the new furniture, and had decided to leave them alone with that and look for Lisa. He found her with her laptop on the couch, just as Elly and Janny had found her there earlier in the morning. She was so engrossed in her work that she was startled when Sjaak put the key in the lock.

"Oh thank goodness it's you, I was shocked by the sound of your key! I was so into it, into what I was doing. Are you guys done with that move yet?"

Sjaak nodded and walked over to her, put her laptop on the table and pulled her up, against him. He stroked her back and her hair while she, relaxed, laid her head against his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him.

"Liesel, my sweet Liesel," Sjaak murmured into her hair, before responding to her question. "Yes, it's done. Huib and Simon will be busy for a while, but I wasn't needed there anymore and I longed for you. I'd love to build a wall around you to keep you safe, but that's not practical, because then I won't be able to get to you."

Lisa chuckled while Sjaak cuddled her.

"How has your morning been?"

"Good, quiet, I've got that kind of diary ready. I started at what I consider the beginning, how Henk had prepared me with that BDSM. And I ended with what I saw on his recordings regarding those rituals. I was just about to make an overview per person, but then thought, I already had that. Actually I have already put everything in folders per person. I think I'll buy a USB stick and copy everything onto that, then the judge will have everything together."

"That seems like a very good plan, Lisa. Have you had coffee with Annerieke yet?"

"Yes, I was just back for a while. Margreet had picked me up and brought me back almost to the front door. It does feel strange, I'm not really afraid, but it feels all the same strange to be watching out like this.

Oh yes, Janny and Elly have been here. Martin came here to talk with Marcel about the security. Elly had come along with Martin and had been chatting with Janny, they really hit it off. They came here together to ask whether I had found the papers of the rituals too. I hadn't. I hadn't looked for them either because when we were in that house I didn't yet know of the existence of those papers. When I call Ellen tomorrow, I'll talk to her about it. Good chance Alexander will come across that stuff somewhere when he's collecting everything for the auction. Maybe he should arrange security for himself, too."

"That could come in handy yes! Only..."

"Not through the police there," Lisa interrupted him.

"Exactly, maybe he can arrange something through a private agency," thought Sjaak.

Lisa nodded. "I'll suggest it to him. I would hate for that auction to turn into a drama!"

"Sure would, there's been enough drama there already! By the way, it's almost lunchtime. Too bad, I was actually more in the mood for something else: hugging you so much that you completely relax!"

Lisa looked up at him, smiling. "This afternoon then? I don't have anything else to do..."

"Neither do I, and I'd hate for us to get bored, so I think it's a good idea to do something about that together!"

Sjaak pulled her tightly against him, marveling at how his life had changed so much and especially for the better in just a few days!

.

Annerieke had, as she often did on Sundays, provided a little extra. This time she had baked pancakes, plain pancakes, and at the end some pancakes with cheese. Everyone who entered the kitchen immediately began to sniff the delicious aroma. Generally speaking, Annerieke didn't have any bad eaters to complain about, but on days like this they attacked on the lunch.

Sjaak announced that he would stay with Lisa that afternoon, so everyone could do their own thing and didn't have to protect her.

Huib teasingly gave him a kick against his shin: "Party pooper!" he whispered to Sjaak.

"You should say," Sjaak whispered back, "I bet Margreet didn't get pregnant from the wind."

They both burst into laughter, which of course earned them questions from both young ladies.

"Oh, nothing to worry about, just man talk and man fun," Huib tried to assure them.

"Hmm," Margreet did to Lisa with a look of understanding, "that says it all!"

Annerieke gave Simon a wink, "Nice couple huh?"

Simon replied with a wink and a big grin on his face. He was enjoying the richness of his new family!

To chapter 169. Boxing in

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