As they walked to the guest house, Huib looked at his watch.

"We still have a few minutes, let's go through the contract and sign it."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her along to his 'loft'.

He didn't like complicated words in a contract, so Margreet was able to read through it smoothly. She grabbed the pen that was next to it and put her signature.

"What a day!" she beamed. "Come on, let's eat!"

.

Sjaak had already gone to the kitchen for dinner. He rubbed his hands happily, how wonderful this was that someone else had just cooked for him. He had always wanted to take care of himself, had once imposed this on himself. He could cook quite a bit, nothing fancy, but well enough. He had always thought he preferred to be on his own, to be alone rather than with other people. He had been completely uncomfortable with peers around him since childhood. Even then he had preferred to be alone, and he still did.

Except with his colleagues here, Annerieke, Huib and now also Margreet, and sometimes with Anton and Joke when they stayed here. These were people he could tolerate around him, indeed, he had come to love their company. Therefore, against his earlier refusals to drink coffee and eat here, he had now decided that it would surely be good to be with them.

"Good to have you here Sjaak," Annerieke said, "go ahead and sit down, I'll just take the last bowl to the dining room."

When she returned, she started putting vegetables, potatoes and meat on the table for themselves. Just as she put the last bowl on the table, the young couple came in. Annerieke looked at them for a moment, and knew immediately what they had been doing. It seemed as if a cloud of sensuality hung around them. But she didn't say anything about it, this was theirs, although she did worry a little if it wasn't too fast for Margreet.

Sjaak also experienced something special, but because he himself had always kept his distance from people, especially women... and thus had no sexual experience... he thought he was just seeing a couple in love, and he liked that. He was happy for them.

"Ah, there you are, good timing! Have you settled in a bit over there?" Annerieke asked Margreet.

She nodded, "Yes, that was easy, I don't have that much stuff here yet. When shall we pick up the rest Huib?"

"We could do that next week. Tuesday afternoon we'll go to that store with gems. Thursday? What do you think mom, is it feasible for you if we go pick up Margreets stuff on Thursday as soon as the work here is done?" He looked at Annerieke questioningly.

"Thursday? I don't think that would be a problem at all. There's no coming or going of guests, so the work should be able to be finished smoothly, don't you think Margreet?"

"I suppose so. The route there and back is about a four-hour drive. And in my parents' house I just want to grab things quickly and then leave. Then I'll figure out at my leisure here what I want to do with it, keep it or get rid of it. That shouldn't take much longer than an hour. If we take some bread with us for the journey, we can leave as soon as I have hung up the laundry, I think. And then we'll be home in time."

"That will be fine, just take it easy," Annerieke advised.

.

That evening, at coffee time, everything went a little differently than usual. Normally Annerieke, Huib or Margreet came into the living room for a short while at the most to prepare the coffee corner and serve the pie. And usually they had a short chat with the guests about what they had experienced that day. But they themselves drank their coffee in the kitchen.

However, today Annerieke had organized a surprise. After dinner she had talked to Sjaak about drinking coffee in the living room with the guests. She told him her little secret: she had made a special celebration pie because of Huib and Margreet's wedding plans. Nobody else knew what was going on.

Annerieke did not know that Joke had been watching the move from the window of their guest room and had understood that the young people were going to live together. She had decided to share her discovery only with Anton and to enjoy their happiness together, but not to talk about it with anyone else yet. They were looking forward to the moment that the young couple would tell of their choice for each other.

That evening all the guests were already chatting. Some with their partners, others involving other couples to share their experiences of the day. The atmosphere was downright friendly, as it was almost always the case. Sjaak sat next to Anton and felt quite at ease.

Huib and Margreet came in with the coffee and a thermos of boiled water for the tea lovers. A little later Annerieke came, with a beautifully decorated cake. Joke saw it first and exclaimed: "Ooooh how beautiful, Annerieke, what a special cake! It looks like a party!"

Huib and Margreet looked back in surprise. "What a surprise! Such a beautiful pie!" stammered Margreet. And Huib joined her: "Oh Mom, what a sweet sneak you are!" He gave her a firm kiss on her cheek and briefly ruffled her curls with his hand.

Then he looked at Margreet and said, "I have a feeling we have something to talk about here, what do you think?"

Her face lit up with a bright smile, "I think so too Huib... do you want to tell it?"

He grinned, nodded and took her hand, "Dear people, there are some things that are too big and too beautiful to keep to yourself. That is why we would like to tell you that we have decided to get married."

They received a spontaneous standing ovation. The guests came up to them to congratulate them and admire Margreet's ring.

Lisa hugged Margreet, "How happy I am for you, you are such a special couple!"

Joke also congratulated them and with a mischievous face she added: "I thought this afternoon, what are those two walking around with that cart... I was just looking out the window and saw you going. Now I understand, so nice for you!"

Margreet laughed, "Oops, we got caught!" Joke gently squeezed her shoulder and went back to her seat.

"Pleas sit down again, dear friends, and I'll bring the cake around. And Huib, Margreet, I think it would be nice if for once we have coffee here too." Huib and Margreet nodded; they were the cause of the festive atmosphere, so they were eager to stay here for a while.

Annerieke was ready, with the cake server in her hand, trying to assess whether it was safe enough to start serving. Huib held her back for a moment. He quickly grabbed his mobile phone and took a picture of the cake. And another one of his mother next to the cake. He beckoned Margreet and handed his mobile to Annerieke, who took a picture of both of them with the cake.

"So, that cake is immortalized... Go ahead Mom, it looks great! Now we want to know how it tastes!"

Margreet marveled at this spontaneous action and its result. Many people have a reception when they get engaged, officially with invitations and presents, buffet and cakes and whatever else. She had experienced it several times, but rarely really enjoyed it. So many people she didn't know, with whom she had no connection....

But here a kind of reception was created, simply by Annerieke's sweet idea. She fully enjoyed their party, together with her fellow family. Yes, even Sjaak, she thought, while smiling at him, he was so completely part of it, as a kind of older brother. She was happy for him, that he felt so at ease and talked with the guests, while they were enjoying the pie. The guests... no, not really family, but with the exception of Henk, each of them had become connected to them in some way in the short time they had been here. Some, Anton and Joke, had even become close friends of the family in the past and had also taken her directly to their hearts. She belonged, and that was not just a phrase of a few words, she felt it. She was grateful, extremely grateful to all these people who had completely changed her life within two weeks.

To chapter 51. New discoveries

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