Together, Sunshine, Lucas, and Ciara made their way to Mama Cruz's home for a visit. Just as Mama Cruz waved them off, the car rolled down the quiet street, sunlight filtering through the trees like golden confetti. Sunshine held the warm food basket on her lap, inhaling the comforting scent of her mother's cooking.
Lucas whistled playfully from the driver's seat.
"You know, if your mom keeps treating Hansen like this, he might marry into the family by force."
Ciara nudged him with her elbow. "Oh please. As if he hasn't already claimed her a thousand times. That man is obsessed. He'd marry her today, tomorrow, and again next week if the law allowed it."
Sunshine flushed, hugging the basket closer.
"Guys, can we stop? You're making me shy."
Lucas laughed. "That's the whole point, Sunny."
"Besides," Ciara added, twisting in her seat to face her, "Mrs Cruz accepting the position again is a HUGE step. She wouldn't do it unless she trusted Hansen completely."
Sunshine's face softened.
"I know… and that means everything to me. I just want peace between them. And for her to see him the way I do."
"And how is that?" Ciara teased.
Sunshine hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper.
"He… loves me in a way I never knew was possible."
The car went quiet for a moment, soft, warm, meaningful.
Lucas broke it dramatically.
"Okay, that's it. I'm calling Hansen later to tell him to propose under fireworks. Preferably with a skywriter."
"Lucas!" Sunshine gasped, her cheeks burning.
"I'm joking! …Or am I?" he smirked.
Ciara's phone pinged. She glanced down and burst out laughing.
"It's Hansen."
Sunshine whipped her head around. "What did he say??"
"He said...and I quote...
'Tell Sunshine to come home quickly. I miss her already.'
Ohhh he's down bad." Ciara howled.
Sunshine hid her face in her palms.
"I can't with him…"
Lucas grinned wickedly.
"Oh you better can, because you're marrying into this level of clinginess soon."
At Hansen's Mansion, the moment Lucas parked in the driveway, the front door swung open, Hansen stood there, sleeves rolled up, barefoot, eyes immediately finding Sunshine like a magnet finding true north.
He didn't care about Lucas. He didn't care about Ciara. He didn't even care that the gates hadn't closed yet.
He walked straight to Sunshine, gently took the basket from her hands, and whispered,
"You smell like your mother's cooking… and trouble."
Ciara snorted loudly. "We'll just… leave you two."
Lucas dragged her away, hissing, "Don't ruin the moment...don't ru.....okay you ruined it but let's go." The door clicked shut behind them. Sunshine playfully hit Hansen's shoulder. "Stop embarrassing me."
He set the basket on the counter, stepped into her space, and cupped her face.
"You coming back today is the highlight of my day. Embarrassing you is simply a bonus."
She laughed softly, leaning into his touch.
"Hansen…"
"Hm?"
"Mama Cruz prepared Alfredo pasta. Your favorite."
His eyes softened instantly deep, emotional, overflowing.
"And did she… say anything? About us?"
Sunshine nodded shyly.
"She said she'll do anything to make me happy."
Hansen exhaled, relief, gratitude, and love blending into one soft sound.
"She has no idea how much making you happy is all I ever want."
Just as he leaned in to kiss her....
SLAM!
The door burst open and Valerie rushed inside, breathless.
"Auntie Sunshine! I forgot my pencil case at school...OH."She stopped dead, staring at them suspiciously.
"Were you two doing something romantic?"
Hansen sighed dramatically and stepped back. "We were about to."
Valerie gasped. "WITHOUT ME?? I'm part of the family now! I need to be included in all romantic scenes!"
Sunshine burst out laughing and scooped her up.
"Come here you little movie director."
Hansen pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This child is going to terrorize my entire life, isn't she?"
"She already has," Valerie proudly declared. "Now let's go eat pasta! I'm starving."
And as she dragged them both toward the dining table, hand in hand, Hansen and Sunshine exchanged a knowing, tender look.
That evening, they stopped by the grocery shop to grab some things they needed. As soon as Lucas and Ciara dropped Sunshine off and the two siblings stepped into Hansen's living room, they found him pacing back and forth with a notebook in his hand and a pen behind his ear.
Lucas smirked. "Ladies and gentlemen… the groom in panic mode."
"Shut up," Hansen muttered, flipping a page and then flipping it back immediately. "Okay so today is the day. I want everything perfect. Sunshine deserves perfect."
Ciara dropped her purse and clapped her hands loudly. "Finally! I've been waiting for this moment. Proposal planning committee is officially in session."
Lucas threw himself onto the couch. "Before we start… Mama Cruz sent food. Sunshine's favorite and your favorite, by the way. Alfredo pasta."
Hansen paused. "Mama Cruz? She… cooked for me?" Sunshine didn't say a word about the food her mom cooked for me.He pretended he knew nothing about it.
"Yes," Ciara nodded proudly. "She said, and I quote. 'I will do anything to make my daughter happy.' You're officially accepted."
Hansen let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "That means the world to me."
Lucas groaned dramatically. "Can we talk about the ring now? You almost tore my phone apart asking for jeweler contacts."
Hansen rolled his eyes but sat down. "Okay. Here's my plan."
Both siblings leaned in.
"So," he continued, "I want the proposal to be personal. Romantic but not overwhelming. Sunshine hates noise, big crowds… she likes simple, heartfelt things."
"Good," Ciara approved. "We love a queen with taste."
"I'm thinking…" Hansen opened his notebook, revealing sketches and bullet points. "…a surprise evening on the rooftop. Candles, soft lights, her favorite flowers. Then I'll sing her that song she loves."
Lucas blinked. "You're going to sing? Live? With your actual voice?"
"Lucas," Ciara slapped his arm, "shut up, he has a great voice."
"I know," Lucas shrugged. "I'm just shocked he's using it."
Hansen shook his head, smiling despite himself. "After the song, I'll tell her everything. How she changed my life. How she made me better. And then "...he flipped the notebook to a page where a sparkling ring was sketched, "...I kneel."
Ciara clutched her chest. "I'm going to cry already."
"Question," Lucas raised a hand. "Does Sunshine know any of this?"
"No," Hansen said firmly. "And she shouldn't. That's why I need both of you to help distract her."
Ciara grinned mischievously. "Oh, leave that to me. I'll keep her busy all day."
"And I'll handle the ring pickup," Lucas added. Hansen exhaled, overwhelmed but hopeful. "I just want it to be perfect. She deserves everything."
Ciara touched his shoulder. "It will be. You're doing this from your heart. Sunshine will say yes before you even kneel."
Lucas pointed at the notebook. "And we're here to make sure nothing goes wrong."
Hansen nodded, determination settling on his face.
"Alright then. Operation 'Ask Sunshine to Marry Me' begins now." Hansen grinned