It had passed Sjaak and Lisa by that there were no more guests on the premises. In consultation with Huib, Annerieke had called the only couple who would be coming after Marcel and Jannie left, to inform them that for personal circumstances she had to close the guest house for the next week. She had given them some addresses in the neighborhood, of which she knew they still had space. The couple had wished them luck with whatever was going on and assured her that it was no problem. They would find something else.

Over coffee, they had consulted about the lawsuit, what needed to be arranged. They realized that the two security guards who were in Lisa and Sjaak's house would almost certainly go with them. The security guards outside could just stay.

Simon thought, maybe the security guards could provide coffee and lunch for the construction workers. "No cake for a change, they'll have to make do with gingerbread for the day," he thought.

Annerieke decided to put everything on paper, everything she would have to arrange, so that the construction work could continue as usual. Then she consulted with the security guards who were there at the time. Not only did they not find it a problem, but they were especially happy for the whole family that the trial would be so soon! They promised to pass it on to Marieke and the colleagues.

Annerieke called Lisa, told her that they would all be going with her on Thursday, yes, including Huib and Margreet, and Simon would put one of his men in charge that day. She told her that the outside guard would take care of the construction workers. Everything was already in place.

She consulted with Lisa which friends she could call to invite them, and offered to ask Janny and Marcel if they could have dinner with them at the end of the day. When she ended the conversation, she left behind a crying Lisa, weeping with joy.

.

So it happened that Annerieke had hardly anything to do that weekend. She had baked cake for the family and the security guards, but for dinner she had done something she had not done before. She had sent Huib out to get a stack of pizzas of all kinds. Huib, knowing that his mother liked vegetables, went to a supermarket where he knew they made pizzas on the spot that were thickly topped. He took a moment to count how many people they needed pizzas for, and ordered as many pizzas. At the pickup, he piled them into two crates and drove to the guesthouse, where he laid the pizzas side by side on the counter. He had included the security guards who would be working tonight, as well as the outside guard who would be coming tomorrow morning. So he shoved four pizzas in the refrigerator, and put a bill for both those security teams by the coffee machine. He went outside again and walked to his mother's house.

"Hey moms!" he called out from afar as he saw her come out. "I bought a stack of pizzas. I put four different pizzas in the fridge, for the outside security guards working tonight and tomorrow morning. I stacked the other pizzas on the counter. They only need to be in the oven for 10 minutes at 220 degrees, I saw on the stickers.

I had thought of having six pizzas brought to Sjaak and Lisa, also two for their guards at home tonight. She can keep them in the fridge.

Annerieke looked at him a little blurry: "Sorry, I don't oversee it. Arrange it later, if you like. I'm glad we have a week off, it's all a bit too much for me. I miss Sjaak and Lisa and I am a bit tense about the lawsuits. I'm just a little upset. And to be honest, I'm also having trouble canceling the guests who were supposed to come next week. That doesn't feel good, like I'm short changing them. I know I chose correctly, and those people didn't mind at all, but still I feel a little guilty towards them. Another point of healing, I guess."

Huib smiled, recognizing the feeling: "That will be it yes, it is not nice to say no, especially if you have already said yes. Would you like to keep taking care of the groceries and dinner next week? If necessary, Margreet and I can easily jump in, you know! Only the cakes... well, I can't take over that, but a while without cakes doesn't seem to be a problem either."

Annerieke shook her head, smiling: "No, I don't mind. I just like cooking and baking. Maybe I'm also just a little bothered by the change, that soon there will be no guests, so I don't have to take care of them. I have to switch over so much, it feels like my whole world is suddenly turned upside down. And this morning I had the feeling that I had to arrange so much for the day of the trial. In retrospect, that wasn't so bad either. I called the people we wanted to invite. The responses were so nice!

And just imagine, the next week, the four of us having dinner here at night, with just the security guards in the dining room. Actually, they could eat with us in the kitchen, don't you think? Thursday they are also going to have coffee and lunch with the construction workers. They haven't done that before, we've always kept them separate. We might as well change that from Monday or so. I will discuss it with them. Pfff, I feel tense. It's all going to work out fine, but it just feels crazy, really crazy."

Huib nodded, "It's a strange situation indeed. Those construction workers there, the security guards who walk around here all the time, Sjaak and Lisa locked up in the house. And now no guests either. It doesn't just feel like the world is upside down, everything is really upside down. But if things go well, that will change soon. Also, did Lisa call you about that email from the judge?"

"Yes, what a wonderful man! I'm so happy for her that this judge got her case! I'm sure things will work out..."

"Let's go with that," Huib thought, as they headed into the kitchen.

"Oh wow, what beautiful pizzas. Those are really well topped! Would you mind having the pizzas brought in for Sjaak and Lisa and their security guards?"

Huib brought them to the people from the outside guard. One of them immediately brought them to Lisa and reported later that his colleague who had received them was completely happy with the pizzas.

During the evening Annerieke told Simon, Huib and Margreet that she had called Joke and Elly about next Thursday, to invite them and their husbands.

"I told them roughly what that judge had emailed to Lisa. They thought it was all very special, also couldn't imagine that this was a standard way of writing. I told them that first we would have a sort of introductory meeting with the judge, and then five meetings with the defendants. They are all coming! And I also already consulted with Janny. Her reaction was so sweet. She thought that at the end of the day we would then feel like having a meal at their house. So I said, I just wanted to ask her that. She thought it was a perfect idea, so we could have a chat. She invited us all, including Anton and Joke, Elly and Martin, and the security people who were going with Lisa and Sjaak that day. Even the judge and the lawyer, if they want to come. Just everyone who belongs to us at the trial. So nice! So after all the hassle in court we can relax with them."

Simon put his arm around her and gave her a firm kiss on the mouth. "What a wonderful woman you are! Thank you, darling, for arranging everything so beautifully!"

Huib and Margreet laughed and joined him. They hugged her, telling her how much they loved being able to spend all of Thursday's court sessions together with Lisa and Sjaak.

Annerieke looked around the small circle wearily. "It all does more to me than I thought it would. Not just the nasty things out there, but also the beautiful ones. That email from the judge, the reaction of those guests I had to cancel, the small talk with our girlfriends, and especially you, your reactions. This is the best family I can imagine!"

To chapter 206. Getting acquainted at the courthouse

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