My thanks to ErikThread for his editing skills and assistance in making this story readable. Any errors are mine.
Chapter 5:
The next morning, I awoke suddenly, memories of the previous night flooding back. I had asked Astrid to marry me. She and Crystal had made peace with each other. I shot 93 while being in the company of very powerful men in the forest industry and government. It didn't seem possible that all this took place in a matter of a few hours.
I lay on my back, thinking rapidly of what I needed to do today. First, I needed to get Henrik alone for a few minutes to ask his permission to marry Astrid. I hoped he hadn't already left for his office. Second, I needed to find a jeweler to buy a ring for Astrid. Third ... no wait ... second, I needed to tell my parents. Then the jeweler. What else? I was having a hard time organizing my thoughts. Too much, too fast. I was busy letting all these random thoughts bounce around in my head when I felt the soft, velvet hand of my fiancΓ©e wrap itself gently around my morning erection.
"Hi," she said as she snuggled into me.
"Hi." I was soon running my fingers softly through her curly blonde hair.
"Was I dreaming or did you ask me to marry you last night?"
I turned to her and saw the bright eyes and soft smile of a beautiful woman.
"I think we were both dreaming the same dream. I think we should make that dream come true, don't you?"
"Yes, definitely. It's too good to waste a dream as nice as that," she agreed.
I looked over her shoulder and saw that it was a few minutes past seven am.
"What time does your father go into the office?"
"Not before nine, usually. He says it's one of the 'perqs' of being the boss. He enjoys his time with Crystal at breakfast."
"I'd better get moving and cleaned up if I'm going to ask him for your hand in marriage," I said, rising from the bed and heading for the ensuite.
Astrid popped up immediately. "Are you really going to ask him?" She appeared genuinely surprised.
"Yes. Did you think I was kidding last night?"
"I don't know. I didn't think about it. I suppose I just assumed it was something you said ... you know ... like a tradition or something."
"It is a tradition. If I know your father, he's a bit 'old school' and he'll appreciate my making the gesture. Besides, what's the worst that can happen?"
"He could say no!" She sounded alarmed.
"Well then, we'll just have to elope," I laughed. I was feeling pretty confident.
I waited for Astrid while she performed her morning ritual and got dressed. We walked downstairs together, entering the kitchen to find Crystal and Henrik at the counter as they were the previous morning.
"Good morning," Henrik greeted us in his hearty voice.
"Good morning," we replied. Astrid kissed her father and then turned to Crystal and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Uhmmm ... sir ... can we have a chat in private before you leave for the office?" I asked before I lost my nerve.
"Of course. Help yourself to something and we can meet in my study." There wasn't any hesitation in his voice.
I would normally start my morning with a glass of juice, but this morning I decided on a coffee, and I quickly poured myself a cup, following Henrik into his study. As I left the kitchen I glanced at Crystal and saw a knowing smile. She couldn't possibly know what I was planning ... or could she? Astrid didn't have time to give her any information, but I knew that three seconds after I left the room, Crystal would know everything.
I walked into Henrik's study and he closed the door behind me. He gestured to a comfortable chair and I sat, trying to gather my thoughts as I did.
"Uhmmm ... sir ... I think you know I'm in love with your daughter." I paused and saw him nod. I held my breath. "I want to ask your permission for your daughter's hand in marriage."
He nodded again, saying nothing. I decided to press on, but I was unnerved with his silent response.
"I love Astrid very much, and I know that we haven't known each other for very long, but ..."
He held up his hand at that point. "Rick, you have my permission. You are both adults, you don't need my consent to fall in love. I haven't known you for very long, but from what Astrid tells me and what I can see with my own eyes ... you will make a very fine son-in-law."
I must have breathed a sigh of relief because he almost laughed as I let the trapped air out of my lungs. "Thank you, sir. I'll look after finding a ring today."
Again he held up his hand. "Rick, it's not that simple. I have some conditions that you must understand are important to me, and to Crystal. Please hear me out."
I nodded, suddenly nervous at what these conditions might be.
"First, I want you to give Astrid the ring her mother wore when I asked her to marry me. It is a very old ring and has come down through my family. There won't be any more Rasmussens on our side of the family, so it's important that Astrid have something to remind her of our family. Can you agree to that?"
"Yes, sir. It would be a honour to carry on that tradition."
"Very good. But there are some other more difficult conditions that I must discuss with you." He stopped and sighed before looking directly at me. "Astrid is a very wealthy young woman and will be wealthier still when I'm gone. For this reason, I will insist on a pre-nuptial agreement. It will be fair to you and still protect Astrid. If the marriage fails, you will receive a lump sum payment of five million dollars, provided you have not committed a criminal act, or abused or abandoned her or any children you might have. Can you agree to that?"
"Yes ... but ... I hope you understand. My relationship with Astrid has been about my love for her, not knowing of her wealth. She has never hinted that she possessed this ... dowry. I never thought about it, even last night when I asked her to marry me."
Henrik nodded, but his gaze was riveted on me.
"We have a good life and we can have a good life, even if I am a school teacher and she is a mother and homemaker. I can't conceive of our not making our marriage a success ... just as my parents have ... just as you and Crystal have. That's the goal that I set for myself. Nothing else will be acceptable."