After breakfast, Margreet quickly went to work on the guest floor. She wanted to avoid being still busy when her parents would come upstairs. And that worked out reasonably well. She had just finished and was about to go downstairs, when they came up, with Anton and Joke following them.

"Good morning all, had a nice meal?" asked Margreet in general.

"Delicious as always!" came Anton's firm voice.

"Definitely!" Joke confirmed.

Margreet's parents mumbled something unintelligible about breakfast and seemed to wait until Anton and Joke were out of the way. But Joke didn't let herself look away and asked if she had any plans for today.

"Yes, Huib and I are going to a village down the road to a store where they sell precious gemstones. Huib bought my ring there too."

Joke took her hand to look at the ring again. "It really is so beautiful, so delicate. Does anything need to be done about it?"

"No, but Huib has made me a desk with chests of drawers and those drawers will have simple knobs with a gemstone in them. And we're going to pick out those stones this afternoon."

Mieke interfered in the conversation, "See, here we go again! A desk with gemstones... That guy is luring you into his bed by spoiling you this way! I'm just embarrassed that you're my daughter, bah!" She turned and walked to their guest room. John went after her.

Anton and Joke looked at Margreet and joined her downstairs. In the laundry room, Joke hugged Margreet, thinking she needed comfort. Margreet looked at her: "Joke, I can imagine you expecting me to be upset or saddened here, but the opposite is true. I am relieved, so relieved! Of course it was a rotten remark, what she said about Huib. She did that a few times yesterday too. She has no idea who Huib is, how he is, who he is to me. But other than that I am only relieved that I am rid of them! Huib asked me to think about to what extent I wanted to keep contact with them. I now know the answer: not at all! Thursday Huib and I will go to their house to pick up the things I still have there. I think I will write a little note for them beforehand and put it there on the kitchen table. Then when they go home on Friday, it will probably be a slap in their face, but so be it."

Anton put his hand on her shoulder and looked at her proudly: "Great decision! You're a good woman, Margreet, kind and hospitable, and your relationship with Huib is of the purest kind. And you know, Huib is like a son to us, and I would love it if you would want to be like a daughter to us." Joke nodded vigorously and looked at Margreet questioningly, longing for an affirmative answer.

The happy smile on Margreet's face spoke volumes. "Oh yes, wonderful! Annerieke is more than a mother-in-law to me, she already indicated that she wants to see our relationship as a mother-daughter relationship, and I don't have any trouble calling her 'mom', it just happens spontaneously. And I am happy to adopt you as a father and mother! I feel rich!"

She made a round dance and hugged them both. "Thank you so much! Pfff just holding myself for a moment, I'm getting a little dizzy all of a sudden."

When her head was clear and calm again, she looked happily at Anton and Joke: "Darlings, I'm going to withdraw myself into our wonderful house."

"Quite right Margreet, we're moving on too. I'm going to check on Huib in the barn, I thought he looked grumpy this morning, to say the least. Maybe he needs an outlet for a while."

Anton gave Joke a kiss, "And you? Getting on with your book?"

Joke nodded, "Yes, the situation here has given me new inspiration. Margreet, do you mind if I include what is happening now with your parents in my book? Without naming names of course!"

Margreet nodded, "Of course, who knows how many people will recognize themselves and feel supported!"

"Fine, then I'll add it to my brainstorming page right away."

Anton patted Margreet on the shoulder as a greeting and walked towards the large barn. The women hugged each other briefly. "See you later, dear daughter," Joke smiled, and went to her room.

Margreet stayed behind alone, letting what had happened sink in for a moment. Untying herself from her biological parents, and then being welcomed as a daughter by a wonderful couple like Joke and Anton, people full of love and wisdom. Life had become good! Wordlessly singing, she walked home.

To chapter 74. Daniëlle's jewelry store

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