CHAPTER SEVEN

Karin wakes up on her bed smiling. This has become the norm for her lately and everything felt surreal. She will be getting married in two days in a simple ceremony involving her family and Johan's closest friends Eric and Chadwick. He told her he'd be introducing her to his family when he feels it's alright to. His statement had alarm bells ringing in my head, with all manner of 'what ifs' threatening to throw me over the edge, in-fact, I almost passed out, had he not specifically calmed me to trust his instincts because that's how he relates with his half siblings.

She sits up and folds her legs, today is her final fitting and she has Johan to thank for convincing her father. He had told her he wasn't going to hide anything from him, and he hopes he'd fall in love with her before their agreement ended. Left to her, she'd have married him and dropped the bomb on them during Ella's wedding. Thank goodness he has more empathy than her.

Karin picks a scrunchy from the bedside drawer and packs her hair in a loose ponytail, swinging her legs to the right, aiming to get off the bed but another wave of thoughts assail her, forcing a worried look across her features.

She feels giddy about the whole arrangement and cannot deny the 'what ifs' throwing their selves at her. What if it all goes wrong? What if Johan changes his mind at last minute and doesn't show up? What if everything blows up in her face and she ends up becoming a laughing stock?

She hugs her knees to her chest, replaying the 'what ifs' in her head over and over until a knock on her room door jerks her back to the present. She reluctantly gets up to answer it.

Upon opening the door, she sees her father on the other side of the door and attempt to smile but it comes out short of her usual smile.

"Morning Princess, someone is here to see..." His words trail off and is replaced with a frown. "Are you alright?"

She shakes her head gently, trying to mask her emotions. "It's nothing Father, just some silly questions going through my head that's all."

Her Father takes a step closer, "Are you having second thoughts honey? You know I'll support you whatever it takes right?" totally forgetting why he went up to her room.

Johan pops his head behind his to be father in-law uninvited and smiles guiltily. "Hey there! I couldn't wait to be announced when I heard how concerned your Dad seemed." He comes into full view, standing behind him. "What's up?" He looks at her appearance and back into her rounded eyes, obviously surprised to see him.

Karin couldn't mask her surprise, staring past her Dad at the owner of the voice she wasn't imagining. "What..."

"Ah yes," Her Dad cuts her off, slightly turning to acknowledge Johan briefly. "I totally forgot about Johan. He's here to take you for your final fitting. Are you up for it?" He closes the distance between them and holds her by her shoulders, looking into her eyes so she won't be able to lie to him.

Karin looks at her Father straight on and smiles genuinely at him. Here she was overthinking things and Johan came to surprise her by coming to pick her for her final fitting. She'll gladly take the risk and with him here, a gut feeling is assuring her he won't disappoint her. "I'm alright Dad, like I said, it's some silly questions clouding my head." She looks behind him at Johan, smiling again. "Hey there, I'm fine. Surprising me is becoming your A-game lately."

"How else do I keep the bride to be happy and to continue believing that I am for real?" His smile reaching his eyes, he continues "How soon can you be ready? We don't want to be late do we now?"

Karin's Dad chuckles a little, relaxing for the first time since their announcement. "Which of you is more eager to be married?" He takes several steps back, allowing room for the couple. "You two are making me nostalgic, and it can only be good sign but then, I'd rather say it will be better." A look of pain crosses his features briefly but it couldn't be missed.

Karin closes the distance between her and her father, not missing the look in his eyes, she wraps her arms around his waist and rest her head against his chest. "I'm glad we're taking you down memory lane and I'm going to hold on to the last part of your statement. Love you loads Dad!" She closes her eyes, takes in his familiar sandal wood smell mixed with his aftershave and smiles, this has been his scent for as long as she could remember.

"Hey, don't you start getting emotional on me! Where's the strong woman I raised, the stoic woman who takes on everything without flickering?" He pat's her on the back gently, and then moves his hands to her shoulders, gently putting her away from him. "I'll be downstairs if you need me and don't keep your man waiting much longer." He turns towards the exit and starts making his way out.

Karin stares at his retreating form and sniffs. "Strong women are allowed to be emotional sometimes Dad." She calls after him.

Her Dad turns slightly and looks into her eyes, his own eyes watering a little. He nods his head in understanding, not willing to say anything else, he steps out but pats Johan on the shoulder lightly on his way. "I'll see you in a bit Johan."

Johan calls after him a little later, knowing he wouldn't hear him. "Sure Andrew, in a bit!" He looks back at his fiancée and smiles a little. "Don't stay too long please." He covers the distance between them and plants a kiss on her slightly parted lips before she could respond, surprising her yet again. He turns and walks out of her room.

A surprised Karin stares at her exit door, walks towards it and gently shuts it.

***

Not bothering about his reflections in the mirrors in the dressing room, and the stylist hovering around him to ensure everything is in place; Johan replies Karin. "How's it going, everything moving at your pace?" He hits the send button, tapping on the screen and anticipating her response.

His phone's light comes on, a very short while later, alerting him. He taps the middle button and reads the short response, 'yes it is.' He smiles to himself, a naughty thought crossing his mind, he quickly types "Send pictures of you in your underwear before you change please!" adding a pleading looking emoji for emphasis. He hits the send button before he changes his mind and deletes it.

He receives a reply of an angry emoji with 'NEVER! accompanying it. He laughs out, shaking his head "Typical Karin." he says to himself.

He earns a warning look from his stylist and he quickly and quietly places his phone on a nearby stool and then looks at his reflections in the mirrors.

***

Karin anticipates a response from Johan, but nothing came and her shoulders slump a little, showing her disappointment. She was really enjoying their chat, now she wasn't sure if he was serious or joking about seeing pictures of her in her underwear but she plans to find out after they were done.

Still in her wedding dress, she walks around in her stilettos checking out her reflections from all angles, loving how she looks and happy with her choice of outfit, hoping Johan will love it also.

She smiles to her eyes and goes to sit on the only overstuffed chair in the room, getting set to change back into the outfit she came in. Her phone vibrates in her hand and she almost drops it, shaking her head and berating herself for completely forgetting about it.

She unlocks it and sees a message waiting for her to peruse; opening the message she sees several sad emojis and 'I'm hungry, how soon can you meet me in the car?' Her eyes widens as she replies "Jurassic park is in trouble, T-rex is no contender with this hungry Johan!" She chuckles briefly, taking on a serious expression, she types on "I'll be out in at most seven minutes." She taps the send button, drops her phone on the chair as she stands up and begs her stylists to help her out of her dress.

+++

After downing the last bite of his mousse cake, Johan leans into his chair and stretch out his legs underneath the table, bumping into Karin's legs on purpose and without a care he traps her legs and then looks across the table at her, smirking.

Karin rolls her eyes while chewing on the pasta in her mouth, choosing to ignore him and not choke on the food.

Johan chuckles "Smart girl!" he releases her legs but relaxes his not to far from hers.

Karin swallows the food in her mouth and takes a sip of her red wine. "You're the meanest and most handsome man I've come to know Johan Lars!"

Johan raises both hands in the air and laughs a little. "That's my name and thanks for the compliment Karin Kurt!" He belches out loud for her ears only and laughs again when she gently sets down her cutlery and lean back in her chair, folding her hands over her chest.

"The mega T-rex is full and happy again!

"That was disgusting MEGA T-REX, and you know that I could choke on my food earlier, were you planning to dance on my grave huh?"

"Dancing on your grave is not a funny expression in my dictionary Karin, can you please not say it again?" His expression changes and he sits up.

Karin nods her head, noting the change in his mood. "Okay I will try not to."

"I'll appreciate that. Let's drop it." He looks at her half eaten food and back at her. "Are you not going to eat more?"

Karin shakes her head and shudders remembering how he belched earlier. "You killed my eating mood with the way you belched." She looks at her watch and pleadingly at him. "I have to go back to the office and catch up with work. It's been an amazing day so far except for a while ago." she looks at her unfinished food and back at him, scrunching her nose "Will the wicked handsome man be kind enough to take me back to the office?"

Johan smiles "I can be that kind my Lady. Shall we proceed to the carriage?" He signals the waiter and pays the bill, leaving a generous tip.

He gets up and goes to help Karin out of her chair. Placing his hand at the small of her back, he guides her towards the carriage.

As they approach the exit, a familiar voice calls to her. "Karin?"