During breakfast she was quiet, even had trouble eating her food.

"Slept badly, Margreet?" asked Huib her, when Annerieke had gone to the guests in the dining room for a moment.

She shook her head, "No, not bad, but short. I was awake for a long time. Then I went out. I made tea, and sat in my rocking chair reading. Those books I borrowed from Annerieke are special, they touch me. In the end I did go to sleep, only much too short of course. What about you?"

"Same problem, I couldn't get to sleep either, but I didn't think it was a problem, I had a great time reminiscing about our dance. I really love you girl, and I always will, just like in that song."

"Can we talk about it some more this afternoon? Annerieke will be back soon, and I'd rather talk to you alone."

"That's okay, I'm going to work in the big barn today. Will you come to the barn after lunch?"

Margreet nodded, "Good, then we'll have some time, at half past three Annerieke is expecting me here again."

Annerieke, who had just heard the last words, responded, "I won't start until about four this afternoon, what we're going to eat will take less time. So four o'clock is early enough. I still have some things to do here, would you like to start upstairs?"

"Yes, that's fine, I will!"

.

Margreet went upstairs to do her work on the guest floor. No changing the beds today, that made a difference. Saturday was usually hectic in that respect, when all the beds had to be changed. Today she could take it easy, which was nice after that short night.

When she was almost finished, Lisa came up the stairs.

"Good morning Lisa, did you have a good meal?"

"Certainly, you can't miss it here! Annerieke is a particularly good cook huh? And the breakfast, it seems so simple, but she always makes something special. And those Hydrangeas you put on the tables, how beautiful they are! They've already turned quite a color in the fall, and actually I think that's almost more beautiful than in the summer."

Margreet responded happily, "How nice to hear, thank you!"

"And another thing... I was watching you yesterday, Huib and you... I think that boy is crazy about you, the love radiates from his eyes!"

"Yes..." sighed Margreet, "overwhelming Lisa, really, we've only known each other for such a short time, but it goes so deep! I'm so happy about it, but I'm also extremely excited about it in a scary way."

Lisa laughed, "I hope right through that excitement you can fully enjoy it! I'm going to go grab my bag, we're going for a day of shopping."

"Okay, have fun Lisa, and see you tonight!"

Margreet went downstairs to put the washing machines to work.

"Imagine you had to do all that by hand," she muttered to herself.

"That's not doable," came an unexpected reply from Anton behind her.

"Oh hey! You know how to scare a person," Margreet laughed.

"Fortunately your scare didn't last long, you're already smiling again. How are you doing?"

"I’m fine, slept a bit short, I had quite a few lions and bears in my head, that's why..."

"Who was that lion and who was that bear? Huib?" asked Anton.

Margreet grinned, "You would think so wouldn't you? He was the center of my feelings, but not the lion or bear of my thoughts. My thoughts were harassing around my feelings, sort of, it was really annoying! I sat reading in my rocking chair for a while, little distraction, and that did help me, especially because the books I borrowed from Annerieke are about people who have the same kind of feelings and conflicting thoughts. In the end, they follow their hearts, their feelings."

"And you?"

"I've decided to do that too. Pretty exciting, I hope it works out," Margreet hesitated.

"Make it discussable with Huib over and over again. It won't always be easy for you, Margreet, but I think he knows how to help you. So keep talking about what you are up against," Anton advised.

Margreet nodded: "That's what I was going to do, we have to go through it together. This afternoon I'm going to talk to him for a while, I'm sure it will be fine."

"He's a dear, and so you are!" Anton grabbed her by the shoulder and gave her an encouraging squeeze.

For a moment Margreet didn't know what to say to that. She smiled at him, whereupon Anton walked away and Margreet turned on the washing machines.

To chapter 38. Moving on together

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