After coffee, Margreet went to hang the laundry. Lisa announced that she would walk to Ellen’s to drop off her divorce petition to her.

"How does that feel?" Annerieke asked.

"Like a relief, like a door has opened to really start living. I can see the wide world, I've never had that feeling before!"

"Sounds good Lisa," said Sjaak. "I have to go to the garden center, can I give you a ride?"

Lisa thought for a moment. Somehow she would like to spend some time with him, but on the other hand she found that terribly exciting. Well, it would remain exciting, so she might as well jump right into the deep end.

"I love walking in this weather, but I also like snooping around in that garden center. So yes, I'm happy to ride with you!"

"Fine! I'm all set, so as far as I'm concerned we can leave right away. Do you need to get anything from your room?"

"Yes, just my backpack, otherwise I have no bank card. Maybe I'll see something nice for the attic room."

They walked into the hallway together. "Does it feel a bit like your room already?"

"No, not really, more like a guest room, but that's okay, it's a temporary solution. And after that I want to move to a place that will really be my home. Just a minute, I'll get my backpack."

She ran up the stairs, while Sjaak looked after her, smiling.

"Nice ride together," Huib passed him, with a big wink. Sjaak chuckled. Huib really had everything figured out!

.

While Huib went to do his shopping at Danielle's and the do-it-yourself store, Sjaak and Lisa drove to the village. At Ellen's, Lisa went in alone, while Sjaak waited in the pickup. Ellen's secretary accepted her papers, thanked her for them, and promised to pass them on to Ellen. "As soon as she has gone through everything, she will call you. Probably this week..."

"Fine, thank you," Lisa smiled and went back outside. She got into the pickup.

"How nice this is, sitting up high, you have such a nice view from here!"

Sjaak smiled, "I like it too. I've thought about buying such a pick-up myself, but I can always use this one, so why would I. And right now I don't really need a car of my own, so I can save my money."

"You'll also need that money for your house. The renovation itself will cost quite a bit, and then there's the furnishing."

"The cost of building isn't too bad. We'll pay Simon, his hourly wage. But other than that, it will probably be a lot of volunteer work. At least, that was the case last time, but maybe it will be different this time. We have the cost of materials, of course, but all in all it's probably not too bad."

.

The garden center was nearby. With a sort of shopping cart, they went inside.

"I need mostly outdoor plants," said Sjaak. "What do you want? Look around together, or would you rather do it alone?"

Lisa tilted her head as if thinking, but she knew the answer. She looked at him kindly: "If you have the time and feel like it too, I'd like to look around together."

"Then we'll do that, I do feel like it, and I have the time to myself. Most weeks of the year I work overtime, except in this season, then I can do what I feel like a little easier."

They decided to go outside first to look for the plants Sjaak needed. Comparatively, there was little choice now, winter was just around the corner. But Sjaak felt like putting some extra winter bloomers in his own front yard, and taking a few for the estate right away. Actually, he had already thought about which plants he wanted to bring, but now that they were together, he decided to involve Lisa. It turned out that she, like himself, loved the smell of lilacs. She was pleasantly surprised to find that they also existed in a winter version. Together they collected a cart full of winter plants.

"Is that really handy Sjaak, to buy them now? I mean, if you want to build on your house, the workmen might run down your garden."

"They have to dare!! But no, they don't have to come into the front yard, they can use the sides and the back for their scaffolding and stairs or whatever they need. It will be a busy time, but fun, it has something amiable about it. You know what I loved about Annerieke last time? She wanted those construction workers to just come into the kitchen and drink coffee and eat with us, as long as they left their dirty shoes in the laundry room. They were even allowed to use the guest toilet of the guest house, if they promised to keep it a bit clean. I really loved that, how she accepted everyone and gave them space. Those construction workers were like a temporary family then, totally belonged for the time!"

"That's definitely nice. Annerieke is really such a sweetheart! Because of her, and also because of you, because of Huib and Margreet, I totally belong too. It just doesn't really come down in my feelings yet."

"Wounds Lisa, that needs healing, and healing needs time and rest," Sjaak smiled at her. And again she saw more in his eyes than just kindness. It caused a warm glow to spread throughout her body.

She blushed, and she knew it, but because Sjaak pretended not to see it, she managed not to worry too much about it.

Inside the garden center they drove their cart between all the bins with indoor plants. Lisa chose two somewhat smaller plants, lid cacti, with simple decorative pots. "For on the low cabinet. These are easy plants, don't need much water, and when they bloom they are so beautiful. I like to look at those flowers up close and marvel every time at how special they are. Actually, I still need something for under the pots, to keep them from making circles on the cabinet."

"Ask Huib if he'll just saw a few coasters for you. He has a pile of leftover wood and will probably enjoy doing that for you."

Lisa looked at him beaming: "What a nice idea, I'll do that!"

Sjaak was amazed at how something so simple could make her shine that much. Apparently she wasn't used to much fun....

To chapter 81. When love ignites

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