Chapter 43 – Major Changes

Now that the first phase of the renovation is complete, the apartments can be furnished. Claire and Marc have a fixed staircase to the raised sleeping area, just like Lisa, but mirrored.

Noa and Mimi buy a secondhand bed that they place under the sleeping area. Claire and Mimi make the bed together. There’s little space for clothes.

JP has other things to do, so they find a rack in the same secondhand shop that fits perfectly under the stairs. Lisa hands in a rack where she stored her fabrics. Lana replaces it with a shelf above her work table, and in no time, the rack is full.

Frits gives up his lease and moves with Flora into JP and Lana’s room. He has rented a storage unit to store his belongings until their own apartment is ready.

A few weeks later, Elise, JP’s mother, walks around the back. The brothers look at her in astonishment. Silently, they lead her to the kitchen, where most of the residents happen to be already. Lisa glances at her dejected face and silently makes her a cup of tea.

“What’s going on, Mom?” JP asks worriedly. He immediately noticed something was wrong.

“I left my Bernard. I want a divorce,” says Elise.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” JP says somberly. “Dad’s changed a lot. Why now?”

“I’ve seen your budding happiness. Everything that’s been said—and not told—has made me think. I can’t stand Bernard’s bossiness anymore.”

“I’ve lost myself, become a nobody, a doormat he wipes his dirty feet on.”

“Oh, this is intense,” Lisa whispers, thinking. “If you don’t mind climbing a lot of stairs, you can stay with me for a while. The new apartment is just finished.” She looks doubtfully at the available space.

“I was hoping for a place to sleep. Thank you.” Elise nods to Lisa and then looks at Jean Paul. “My suitcase’s in front of the house. Would you like to go get it for me, sweetheart?”

One Saturday afternoon, JP goes with Lana, Frits, and Noa to look for the entrance to the space between the basement stairs and the workshop.

Lana runs ahead enthusiastically. “I have an idea where I can open the space,” she says. “Do you remember that stone with the cherries on it?” She immediately walks over and points to it. “There.” She holds Noa’s apron aside so the others can see it clearly.

“You have the honor,” JP says, laughing. “You found it.”

Lana presses her hand against the stone. At first, nothing happens. Then there’s a loud bang, followed by a deafening scraping sound—but not where they expect it. Automatically, Lana ducks down, covering her ears. “It’s in the hallway!” she shouts. She jumps up and runs out of the workshop.

In the hallway, they watch the wall slowly slide aside. Then it falls silent. JP, Noa, and Frits stand behind her, stunned. A serrated opening has appeared, revealing a dark space beyond.

JP pulls a flashlight from his pants and shines it inside. They walk around cautiously, impressed by what they see. Even Lana remains silent, remaining calm beside her boyfriend.

The room is beautiful, abandoned for centuries and thick with dust. The floor is made of old red tiles laid in an old pattern. The rough plastered walls are cream-colored, and the ceiling rests on heavy oak beams.

In the back left is an arched doorway. JP lets his light disappear into it.

“This must be the space under the stairs.”

They discover a bookshelf with antique books, red stone pots and vases, glass jars on tripods, inkwells and quills, dried herbs, and much more. To the left is an old chest, filled with even more books. They carefully lay the books on the floor to look inside. More books—some with gold leaf.

“Wow,” whispers Lana. “It’s like a wizard lived here.”

The men laugh softly.

JP examines the space carefully and nods with satisfaction. The walls are solid; they can build on this. He takes out a tape measure and gives his brother instructions.

“This will be a beautiful place for Mimi and me,” says Noa with satisfaction. He feels happy. He never expected to find so much happiness in his life: a beautiful wife, good friends, and a wonderful house.

That same afternoon, JP fills in the dimensions on his sketches for the new floors so they can go to a friend who is an architectural draftsman. He promises to complete the drawings and calculations as soon as possible. They have known each other since college; Gabe only continued his studies. Now they wait for the next phase.