When the construction workers had gone home, Simon quickly took a shower and put on easy, homey clothes. He knew Annerieke was preparing dinner and that he had another hour to make a sketch, a preliminary building plan. While working, he had envisioned already something, and he expected that the idea would begin to form itself more precisely once he started sketching.

After dinner, he laid the sketch out on the table for Lisa. "I've made an outline, Lisa. This central, almost square space is the common living room. A small kitchenette could be placed along one of the walls. I think you can assume that everyone cooks in their own kitchen, even if they were to eat together. A two-burner stove and a small oven would probably suffice in the large living room. And a coffee machine and a kettle of course. Here comes a door to a shared entrance, hall and toilet. I had first thought that they could use the toilet in their own house, and they do, but if security teams are needed, they can use the toilet here.

I ‘cut’ out the corners of the living room at an angle, so that that's where the doors to the four houses can go. If you go through that door, you come into the hall, a kind of corridor to the house. From the outside, there will also be a door here to that hallway, so that from the outside they can go directly to their house. The houses all have a living room with an open kitchen area, a bedroom and a bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet. In the bathroom there is also room for a washing machine. Here there is still room for a shed. And on both sides of the barn we can ask Huib if he wants to make a veranda. Both on the common living room and on the four houses I would like to make an attic to counteract the worst heat in summer a bit. And it immediately gives space to store stuff. The attics of the houses could also be used as an extra room, in case there are children involved.

How does it seem to you? If you want to change things, just let me know, this was just the idea that came to me."

Lisa looked at him with a beaming face: "Change? I wouldn't know what! This is pretty much identical to what I had in mind. The only thing different is those hallways. They're longer than I thought, but this is better because it allows more sun to get to the living room and they also have more garden. I think it's really perfect, I think you should keep it that way. You just haven't put any measurements in there yet. Do you have any idea how big you want to make that common living room, for example?"

"Yes, I was thinking of six by six meters, counting without the sloping pieces I took off for those four doors leading to the cottages. It's a spacious room then, that could hold a couple of nice couches, a coffee table, a dining area if you like that."

Lisa sat nodding as he told. She saw it all in her mind. Sjaak had joined them and immediately overlooked how beautifully Simon had arranged everything. He nodded affirmatively to Lisa, upon which they gave Simon permission.

"Go ahead, Simon, make the construction drawing and the offer. This is just going to be it! I would like it, by the way, if the style matches our houses, so with lots of wood. Then Huib doesn't have to get bored either!" thought Lisa.

"Hahaha, he doesn't do that anyway!" laughed Sjaak.

"Do I hear my name?" came Huib closer. What is this supposed to be? That shelter? Gee, Dad, you've thought that out nicely, looks really good! And yes, I'd like to take care of the woodwork! It would indeed be nice if it looked like our houses from the outside. My cooperation you have!"

Margreet and Annerieke, getting curious, also came to see the drawing.

"How nice that looks," sighed Margreet.

"Yes, how beautifully fitting all of it is, Simon! The women who come here will have wonderful homes!!" Annerieke was delighted with the set-up: "All their own place, and a common room to have some contact, perhaps to go through their misery together, or just to have some cosy distraction. What a wonderful plan it is, Lisa! And this sketch is perfectly suited to it!"

"Glad to hear it, dear, then I'll make it into a construction sketch right away tonight!" said Simon enthusiastically.

"So cozy huh, that husband of mine, he's going to sit upstairs in his study all evening," teased Annerieke.

"Did you think so?" came Simon playfully threatening her. "Did you really think I was going to sit upstairs all night?"

He put his hands on her neck and played with her hair, looking deep into her eyes. "I'll take my drawing stuff to the dinner table nicely. And while you're sitting with your pretty little nose in your book, I'll be drawing there!"

He pressed a soft kiss to her mouth and continued to look at her. "Close to you, the best place to be," he whispered.

To chapter 224. Looking back on the first week of vacation

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