Margreet looked at Huib frowning: "What do you mean? It looks like you can feel a thundercloud coming..."

"Right girl, I feel it, and I know it's coming next week. Your parents are coming to stay at the guest house for a midweek."

Margreet jerked away and looked at him with big fearful eyes.

"My parents? A whole midweek? No!!! That’s nog possible! I don't want that! Why didn't you tell them we were full?"

Panicked, she wanted to run away, but Huib grabbed her by her wrists.

"Margreet, that was exactly my first reaction that I would just email that we didn't have room. But first of all, they can see on the website that there are still two rooms available next week. And secondly, they would then try to come another period. So I could dismiss that solution immediately.

The second idea was that I could honestly email them that I didn't want them here. I have never been that customer-unfriendly! But it seemed like an excellent solution for the hurricane I was feeling. I couldn't talk to Annerieke about it at the time, she was busy cooking, so I told Anton everything. He understood that both solutions were not an option. And he came up with another consideration, namely that if they come for a few days, you have the chance to feel to what extent you are already healed, whether you can handle them better. Whether, for example, you are able to walk away from them or say that you don't want to go out with them for an afternoon or don't want to talk to them. I think you know best, with your brain, that they can't force you to do anything. You can follow your heart, if you don't want to, you don't want to, and that’s it! But I have the impression that in the past you did not dare to admit to your feelings, could not go against them. Is that right?"

Margreet nodded.

"But you are allowed to, it's just a question of whether you can manage to stand up for yourself now, against them. You can try to make a decision about that now, but you will only really feel it at the moment itself. Whatever you choose at that moment, we will stand behind you, and help you.

And after that, when the midweek is over, you can make a decision for yourself: do you still want some contact with them in the future, or do you want to break it off completely? Of course, there is no hurry, you can do that later. That’s what Anton told to me.

In the meantime, Anton was also thinking about something else. He decided that Joke and he would stay for another week. For their work that was not a problem, and he wants to be there for you and for us if it would be difficult. We hope it's not too bad of course, but if things get tough, you'll be anything but alone. And then some, I love the timing, the desire to give you a permanent contract, the time to work on your desk, that all started before I got an email from your parents. I'm not sure how to explain it, but that timing feels right."

As he spoke, he had pulled Margreet back against him. He stroked her hair, her back.

Margreet nodded, "That timing is indeed good, you didn't decide to give me a permanent contract because you knew my parents were coming. You decided it because of me, only me. Is that what you mean?"

"Exactly, that's it!"

Huib now grabbed her by her hips, took a step back himself and looked at her lovingly: "And now Margreet, do you still want to stay or are you going to run away?"

"Ow Huib, I would love to run away, it’s so scary! I'm just afraid of all the ugly things they will say, also to you, and to the other guests. They're so used to tearing everything down! They could ruin the atmosphere! Ow, I would be so ashamed of them if they did that!"

"Why should you be ashamed of someone else's behaviour? They act like that, you don’t!"

"Yes, my head knows that too, but it feels so different, like I'm responsible for their behaviour. Now that you put it that way... I've actually always felt that way, shame for them, for how they acted. Anytime I heard them talking hateful at other people, I felt ashamed that they were my parents."

Huib nodded, he did understand how things worked.

"I hope that wound in you, that wound that causes that shame, will heal quickly this week and next, so that you will be free of shame. There is nothing, not even in you, that you should be ashamed of. You are my sweetheart!"

Margreet laughed, put her hands in his long wavy hair and pulled his head toward her to kiss him. "And you're my sweetie!" After each word, she gave him another kiss.

Huib laughed, "Dear funny girl, this kind of funny stuff from you, I love it so much! Somewhere deep inside you is just a lovely spontaneous, cheerful woman, wonderful!"

"Yes, a flower bud with multicolored petals, and they are already starting to open a little bit. Sometimes they startle for a moment, then they close again, but I feel that every next time they open a little easier. I am still curious about the fully blooming flower that I will be..."

She looked at Huib dreamily for a moment. "Yes, I will bloom... bloom with lots of happy colors..."

"Yes hey, that, I'm looking forward to that too. I think I can already see something of what you will be like, but I think there will come a lot of times we will be surprised by everything we don't see yet. Oh girl, I don't want to rush you, I'd rather keep you here, but it's almost four o'clock already... Just a word about those gems, I don't know of a store in the neighbourhood that sells them. Shall we do an internet search together tonight?"

"Yes, I think that would be convenient! Right after we finish cleaning up?"

"Good idea, then we'll have the whole evening to ourselves. Shall we go to my place then?"

Margreet thought it was a fine plan, she would dare to go there now. With one last hug she said goodbye and went to the guest house with a happy heart. Unfortunately, the thoughts of her injuries were not all happy. They soon began to overshadow her heart. She was scared, really scared, and everything that could go wrong flashed through her mind.

To chapter 41. A deep conversation while cooking

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