I came home after a long day of teaching. The theater school had decided that secondary schools and elementary schools must have mandatory theater lessons once a week. Which was all fine in itself. Maybe even very necessary to save the cultural sector.

  But it meant a classroom full of snot nosed kids where maybe 5 out of 25 wanted to do anything with theater in their lives. It had been half a year now since Lucas came back without his memory. And also about 3 months since he got it back.

  It was just like it always was. We were just as in love as we were before the Aruban war. He had even been officially discharged as a reservist from the military. Just like Jonas and Sam. Which meant they would never be deployed to war zones again. Which brought me enormous relief.

  Lucas was sitting at the kitchen table wildly leafing through a stack of papers. He had quit his job on the soap series to focus on his film and the series he wanted to make, which despite his promise he still hadn't told me anything about.

  I sat down next to him. "What are you busy with?" I asked. He didn't look up. "Luuk." He didn't look up again. I smiled and stood up. As I walked past, I ran my hand through his hair. He startled at that. He looked around wildly for a moment. "Oh Phitje. Sorry, I didn't hear you come home," he said with guilt in his voice. I laughed softly. "That's okay, you were so busy," I told him.

  "But what were you so busy with? Your film or that mysterious series?" I asked. "Why mysterious? Haven't I told you everything about it?" he said. I laughed softly. "No darling, you were going to but you never did." I pouted playfully. "Which I do find disappointing. I would have loved to help you with it," I said in a childish voice.

  "Well, if you sit nicely with me, I'll tell you everything," he said. "To start, I was thinking of a series about a young woman, Hannah. She wants to see the world but has no money," he began.

  "And I'm Hannah?" I asked.

  He nodded.

  "To earn money, she takes an au pair job with the Klein family. Three children: one three years old that everyone thinks oh what a cutie. But meanwhile. One six: the caring type, preferably played by a girl. Little mother with dolls. Tea parties with her stuffed animals. And one nine who just finds everything dumb and stupid," he continued.

  I nodded, it sounded pretty interesting.

  "Jan Klein is a young man, younger than his wife, which leads to hilarious situations. He's the owner of a supermarket and a huge workaholic."

  I listened attentively.

  "Then there's Linda. Fashion designer. Always in Milan. Or Paris. London. New York. Basically always away. Once a month for a weekend and yeah then it's hello to Jan... and the kids. They're that type. Stinking rich. And have kids well because they happen to have them."

  I nodded understandingly.

  "Then their housekeeper James. Stubborn. Witty. Cheeky. Nosy. But loyal. He used to take care of the household and the family," Lucas continued.

  "Because yeah," he began in a snobby tone. "You're certainly not going to take care of your own house and kids, that's for the poor slobs."

  I laughed at his tone.

  "But now with three kids and them getting bigger, James can't handle it anymore. No. They need an au pair."

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  He looked at me. "The first script is already done," he said. "Can I read it?" I asked. He blushed a bit. "I assume you'll have to eventually," he said. I kissed him. "I won't go all Nick on it," I said. Referring to my old teacher who only saw faults in a script. I had been taught by Niels, Teddy, and many others to see the mistakes and mention them but more to help someone improve and not tear them down and discourage them.

  He gave me the script quickly. I snuggled up against him on the couch and read it attentively. "You assumed I would accept or not, right?" I asked while reading my role. "Why?" he asked. "Hannah seems written for me. You have no looks for her but lively. Fiery. Headstrong." He kissed my temple. "I'll be honest my love. I did have you in mind as a template yeah." I nodded. "So this is your pilot and soon your first episode. How do you want to continue?" I asked.

  "For the first season the first 4 episodes I think I'll use to really show the characters. Linda who's constantly away and when she's there she just goes to bed with her husband and the kids well... oh hello sweetie yeah pretty that doll." I had to laugh at that. "And Jan who also has no time for the kids. Busy busy busy. The supermarket has to run well. And yeah he has a dream he wants to set up a chain like Jumbo." I nodded. "And how does Hannah end up with them?"

  That was something I was missing a bit in his explanation. I understood that in his head it was totally logical. But showing what's in your head is difficult for everyone. That was no different for Lucas. "She comes from a poor family. I want to really emphasize that in the second episode with a young girl playing young Hannah."

  Reluctantly I left his comfortable arms and sat a bit further away to properly brainstorm his plot. "What does she want in life?" He looked at me. "She wants to see the world travel. Fall in love. I don't know beyond that yet," he said.

  "Traveling is exciting yeah and since she had a poor life no money for it but traveling isn't 100% someone's life goal," I said. "Hannah is young huh Phitje. I think she doesn't know that yet. I think her goal for now is mainly freedom. To discover who she is." I nodded. "Are you planning to show that journey. Seems interesting for her character development." He nodded. "I'm just doubting a bit," he said.

  "About what?" I asked. "I don't think the marriage of Linda and Jan is really a good marriage. There's no love no real intimacy. They hardly see each other. And when they do it's sex. And nothing more." I nodded. "I was wondering if Hannah and Jan should get a relationship," he said. I shook my head. "I wouldn't do that," I said. "Why not?"

  I looked at him. "The young nanny who gets together with the man of the house? That's been done so many times. But something innovative. I can see that marriage falling apart eventually yeah. But make something new out of yet another remake-like series." He nodded. "What would I have done without you?" he said.

  "Aww that's sweet," I said crawling back into his arms. "But to answer you. Without me you would have made a worse series." I teased him. "Little thunderbolt." He teased back. "You look like that youngest kid," he said. "Why?" He laughed softly. "Extremely cute on the outside but meanwhile!" he teased before kissing me.

  We watched some TV together. "I've been thinking," Lucas began. I kissed his cheek. "Bad idea," I said teasingly. "You don't know what it is." He gently bit. "No. I mean you and thinking. That's a bad idea." I teased. He poked me in my side and laughed softly. "Hey little thunderbolt should I punish you now?" I looked into his eyes. "What a good idea," I said sultrily. I saw the desire grow in his eyes. "But what were you thinking?" I asked.

  "Now that we want to grow our family. Maybe it's time to say goodbye to this house." He looked around a bit glumly. We both loved this place. It was our first home together. "I don't want to leave here Lucas. But I have an idea," I said. "The house next door is for sale for next to nothing. What if we buy it with the last money you have left from defense. We demolish that house we get a mega garden and we build an extension here. Then we have enough space for us and all the kids we want. And we can stay here."

  He kissed me deeply. "Great idea," he said. "Should I make an offer right now?" I nodded. "Go ahead." He stood up and grabbed his phone. We had the rule that when we were together our phones were on a table out of reach. That way we made sure mindless scrolling wouldn't intrude on our happiness.

  Life went by fast enough. We felt we had to enjoy the time together. After half an hour he came back. "Done. They'll discuss it tomorrow with the realtor and then it can be ours in just 2 months," he said enthusiastically.

  He put his phone away again and sat back down with me. "I don't deserve you Sophia the white," he said taking me in his arms. "But never leave." He kissed me. "You make me so happy." I kissed him this time. "You me too." He stroked my hair. "I love you," he whispered softly before lifting me up.

  We filled the night with enjoying each other. The world outside our love just wasn't there for a while.