Just as Hansen slipped the ring onto Sunshine's trembling finger and kissed the back of her hand tenderly, a loud, poorly timed whisper echoed from the trees.
"Lucas, move your big head, I can't see anything!"
"Ciara, your elbow is in my ribs, shift small!"
A louder shhhhhh! followed, then CRAAACK! A branch snapped.
Sunshine jolted and looked toward the trees.
Hansen closed his eyes and sighed. "Here we go…" Before he could say another word
They all came flying out. Literally.
Lucas stumbled out first, tripping over a lantern stand and nearly face-planting.
Ciara grabbed his shirt just in time, but in the process, she lost her balance too landing on him with a dramatic boom.
Behind them, the maidens, Kiki, Lettie, Valerie and co burst out like a group of untrained cheerleaders who tried to do a formation and failed.
Kiki was holding her phone up.
Kelvin was holding two confetti poppers.
Lettie had a whole speaker tucked under her arm.
Valerie had… a box of tissues for tears she hadn't even cried yet.
They froze when Sunshine and Hansen turned toward them. Ciara quickly dusted herself off. "Surprise?"
Lucas waved weakly from the ground. "We… we were trying to be discreet."
Valerie shook her head. "And we FAILED spectacularly."
Before Sunshine could even react,
BOOM! Confetti exploded into the air.
Kelvin jumped excitedly. "I didn't mean to pop both! My hands slipped!"
Music suddenly blasted from Lettie's speaker, romantic, overly dramatic violin music.
Lucas finally got up, brushing leaves off himself. "Sunshine, we have been HIDING there for almost an hour! Mosquitoes tasted all our blood in advance! Please appreciate the sacrifice."
Ciara fanned herself. "I almost passed out when he kneeled, oh my goodness! Sunshine, you cried so beautifully!"
Valerie ran toward Sunshine, hugging her tight. "Congratulations! My role model is getting married!"
Sunshine laughed through tears, overwhelmed and blushing.
Hansen tugged her close protectively, smiling. "You planned the maiden's part', didn't you?"
Lucas wiped fake sweat from his forehead. "Yeah, I planned that and there are photographer hiding somewhere hey! Stand up and take pictures now!"
A photographer sheepishly rose from behind a tree, camera already flashing.
Sunshine covered her face, laughing. "This is too much!"
Ciara hugged Sunshine dramatically. "Welcome to the family officially! We approved you long ago, but now it's STAMPED."
Sunshine chuckled. "I'm honored… ."
The maidens grouped around Sunshine, screaming and jumping.
Lucas wiped a tear. "My big brother is getting married. I'm emotionalbdon't judge me."
Ciara rubbed his back. "It's okay baby, cry."
"I'm not crying, my eye is sweating!"
They all burst into laughter.
Hansen wrapped an arm around Sunshine from behind. "Ready for the chaos?"
Sunshine leaned into him. "With you? Always."
The maidens cheered louder, dragging them all into a massive group hug that nearly knocked Hansen off balance.
Sunshine and Hansen returned to Mama Cruz's house first thing the next morning, glowing like two light bulbs. Sunshine didn't even realize she was still smiling until Hansen teased her.
When Mama Cruz opened the door, she squinted at them suspiciously.
"Why are you two grinning like you won a lottery?" They both froze.
Sunshine quickly hid her left hand behind her back.
Hansen cleared his throat. "In law… good morning."
"Good morning, Mama!" Sunshine said with a weirdly high voice.
Mama Cruz narrowed her eyes. "What did you two break? Did the car spoil? Did someone get expelled? Spit it out!"
Before they could answer, Ivan who was coming to visit Mama Cruz showed up from behind.
"What's going on here? You people are whispering like criminals."
Sunshine bit her lip. Hansen rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
Mama Cruz folded her arms. "Somebody TALK before I start confiscating phones!"
Sunshine tried to speak calmly.
"Mom… yesterday something happened and.." But as she talked, she gestured with her hands, completely forgetting she was hiding the ring. The ring slipped into view.
Mama Cruz's eyes widened.
Ivan dropped suitcase...PRAAAH! "What is THAT?!"
The whole world froze. Mama Cruz stepped closer slowly, like a detective approaching a suspect.
"Kendra… Sunshine… Cruz… is that a RING?"
Sunshine swallowed. "Mom… I can explain…"
"You better!" Mama Cruz pointed at Hansen. "And you start praying!"
Ivan suddenly gasped. "OH MY LORD! MY SUNSHINE IS ENGAGED! SOMEBODY HOLD ME!"
Mama Cruz turned sharply. "What am I seeing?!"
Ivan stood straight like a soldier as he knew they were all being dramatic.
Mama Cruz turned back to Sunshine, emotional and dramatic too.
"Who… gave you this ring? Talk now before I faint!" Sunshine held Hansen's hand and said softly, "Mom… Hansen proposed last night."
Mama Cruz blinked once, twice, a third time then she screamed
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"
neighbors probably heard it five streets away. She grabbed Sunshine's hand and examined the ring.
"Jesus! It's shining like a government loan!"
Hansen cleared his throat.
"Mrs Cruz, with your blessing..."
Mama Cruz didn't even let him finish.
She threw her arms around both of them.
"Accepted! Approved! SIGNED! STAMPED! SEALED!"
Ivan jumped in and hugged them all, squeezing Hansen so hard his ribs nearly cracked.
"My son-in-law! My own! Come let me bless you with mineral water!" He ran to the kitchen dramatically. And then Mama Cruz switched mode.
She held Sunshine by the shoulders.
"Why didn't you call me immediately? Do you want me to hear it from the radio?!"
Sunshine laughed. "Mom, it was late and..."
"And what?! Do I look like someone who sleeps before midnight?!"
Hansen bowed his head. "Mother in-law… forgive us."
She softened instantly.
"You better treat my daughter like gold, you hear me?"
Hansen smiled gently.
"I already do, in-law."
She sniffed.
"Awww… now I'm crying."
Ivan returned with a bottle of mineral water and poured a little over Hansen's head like baptism.
"Blessings! Blessings upon this union!"
"Ivan! Stop wasting my water"
Mama Cruz hugged Sunshine again, tears on her cheeks.
"My baby is getting married…"
Then she looked at Hansen.
"…and you...prepare yourself. The wedding committee meeting starts now."
Hansen gulped. Sunshine giggled. Ivan saluted. And Mama Cruz smiled proudly, already planning EVERYTHING.