Huib had stayed downstairs. He felt that something threatening was emanating from Henk. He thought that Annerieke and Margreet could use some protection and decided to get Sjaak. He could not tell Sjaak much in terms of content, he did not know much himself, but asked him to stay in the boarding house with the ladies, at least until Henk had left. Sjaak understood enough to walk with Huib. Cheerfully he entered the kitchen.

"Annerieke, Margreet, it looks like I'm coming to help you with... no idea... can I clean the windows for you?"

Despite the tense atmosphere, everyone burst out laughing.

"Maybe that's not such a bad plan, Margreet, until the coast is clear, shall we give the dining room and perhaps the living room a turn? If Sjaak wants to clean the windows there..."

Margreet nodded, "Good plan, then we'll be together and run the least risk."

She turned to Lisa, "I assume you are going right away?"

Lisa nodded and turned to Huib, Anton and Joke, "If that's okay with you?"

"Sure," Huib responded, "if you ride with me in the pickup, and Anton and Joke ride behind us in their own car, we'll have plenty of room in both those cars to take your stuff. Or should we just rent a moving van at the last minute?"

Lisa smiled, "No way, I don't really have a lot of big things I want to take with me."

"Could you use two more suitcases?" suggested Margreet.

"Well, that would be nice..."

"I'll get them," Huib responded immediately and walked out. A moment later he came with the pickup and the suitcases to the entrance of the guesthouse, where Anton, Joke and Lisa were waiting, ready to leave, with Sjaak, Annerieke and Margreet to wave them off. Margreet put her arm around Lisa's shoulders, "It's going to be all right Lisa, you're going to be a free woman!"

Lisa looked at her in surprise, and despite the situation, a cautiously happy smile appeared on her face. She kissed Margreet on the cheek and got into the pickup. Anton and Joke walked to their own car and after being waved off by the three of them on the porch, they left. No one saw how Henk watched them through the window of his guest room....

.

Sjaak and the two ladies got to work in the dining room. Sjaak proved to be handy at window washing. Because the rooms were quite high, he stood on a high household ladder and like an accomplished window washer he cleaned the windows shiny. Annerieke and Margreet went to work on dusting. "We don't do that too often, actually I only do it when I see that it's really necessary. I'm allergic to unnecessary work, I'd rather do something fun, like baking a cake. I'll have to do that later, don't forget, otherwise we won't have anything for coffee tonight..."

The door opened, Henk stood in the doorway with his shoulders drooping and his suitcase beside him. "I think I screwed up big time today. Margreet, sorry about earlier, you know. I... I'm leaving now, but I don't know where yet. Lisa is with the others to our house, right?"

Margreet walked tightly upright a few steps toward him and said very firmly, "Apology accepted Henk, and yes, Lisa has gone home to pick up her things. Perhaps you would do well to go somewhere else first so you don't run into them. We can't offer you to stay here for a few more hours. Given the situation, it is better that you leave."

Henk nodded bashfully, "I'll go somewhere else. Thanks for everything, and sorry again... Maybe see you again, sometime, I have no idea." He raised his hand and disappeared. They heard him start his car a moment later and watched him drive away.

.

"Unbelievable, what you just did Margreet," Annerieke stammered, "so mighty strong!"

Sjaak stood on the household stairs looking at Margreet with admiration, "Indeed, that was definitely strong! I did not believe my own eyes and ears. And Henk... he felt it too, he didn't have to mess with you. Did you see that? He left just like that, without any protest!"

"Yes, it felt strong, but I'm still shaking like a straw! Do you think we should call Joke and tell her that Henk is going somewhere else first? Then they might be more relaxed."

"And also less alert," Sjaak mentioned. "Imagine that Henk changes his mind and goes straight home after all... then he's totally unexpected in front of them."

"Yes, that's true, but of course I can tell them that option."

"That's right, just do that. Then they also know immediately that with us everything is in order."

Annerieke grabbed her mobile phone, looked up Joke among her contacts and handed the mobile to Margreet. She tapped on Joke's name and on call, and waited a moment.

"Hey Joke, Margreet here, I wanted to tell you that Henk just left fairly quietly. I advised him not to go home right away, so he wouldn't run into you. He said he would go somewhere else first. So it looks like you can pack up quietly, but if he changes his mind on the way... you know, he was calm, but also visibly distressed, so I don't know what's going through his head. Just stay alert there, in case he does come while you're busy there."

"Okay, I'll tell the others. Lisa doesn't live very far away, hour there, hour back, so I estimate we'll be back with you by lunch. But hey, what happened this morning anyway? Why so unexpected this action?"

"When you get home, I'll tell you, but not yet, okay?"

"Fine Margreet, you will, see you later then!

Margreet handed the mobile back to Annerieke. "I didn't think it was wise to tell them now what happened. I have no idea how Huib would react."

"Not happy anyway," Annerieke thought.

Margreet looked at Sjaak, who had quietly continued to clean windows. "Sjaak, I think at lunch we'll have Anton, Joke and Lisa there too. Then I'll tell them what was going on. Is that okay with you too?"

"Of course Margreet, then you only have to tell it once. Lousy situation for Lisa, whatever happened, they didn't fit together...I feel sorry for her!"

"Yes, so do we," Annerieke replied, "we've sensed both weeks that things weren't right between those two. Do you remember Margreet, when we were talking about it, that we had a desire to help people heal emotionally? Well we're actually getting Lisa in our laps."

"Are you going to ask her for rent too, Annerieke?" Sjaak asked. "Not that it's any of my business..."

"No, no way, we're taking her in, that's all. If she wants to pay for food and things like gas and light, fine, but no rent. And it does concern you to that extent, because you belong to us. And I actually experience your question more as thinking along. I like that you think with me, think with me as a member of this family. That's how I actually see it."

Sjaak smiled, "Thank you! Top of you for not asking her for rent, I'm really happy about that. I have no idea how Lisa is doing financially, but I think she has enough to worry about. We just got a new family member, pretty special! By the way, I'm done with the windows on this side. Are we going to continue or are we going to do the things we originally planned?"

"Let's stop here, then I'll bake cake, or shall I help you change their bed?" Annerieke asked Margreet.

"No way, go ahead and bake pie, that's vital, we can't do without that pie tonight. Then I'll clean the empty guest room, and also the attic room for Lisa. And if I have enough time, I think I'll go to the thrift store after that, because, if you don't mind Annerieke, I also wanted to put a vase with some Hortensia branches in all the guest rooms, just like I did here on the dining tables. I will take care of them myself."

"Nice idea Margreet, make it cozy! Are yours still up here or will you buy Lisa new ones too?"

"I took mine and I'm not going to buy Lisa any vases right now. I think I'll ask her on Monday or another day if she feels like going to the thrift store with me. Then she can choose for herself what she likes."

Annerieke nodded, "All good plans! And you Sjaak, what are you going to do?"

"Well, you ask me... let me go pamper our garden for the change!" he replied with a mischievous face.

They burst out laughing. "I'm not the only one who has changed here, you too!" Margreet mentioned.

"You're absolutely right about that, if you had known me when I first came to work here... I was so shy of people! That got less and less, but still I preferred to stay on my own. It was only yesterday, when you together asked me to come here for the meals and coffee, that I noticed I was ready. I'm still not always happy with myself, but it’s going much better!"

Annerieke squeezed his arm for a moment, "Fine Sjaak, really good to hear! Now let's tidy up these cleaning things and each go do our own thing, okay?"

"Yep, we will!" Margreet responded.

To chapter 54. Margreet carries on

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