Helen Plum's eyes bulge at the sight of the beautiful ocean blue Hawaiian sea glass ring on Stephanie's ring finger. This is not the white gold diamond ring Joseph Morelli bought her daughter! Her eyes quickly dart to the tall muscular Mocha Latte man sitting quietly beside her younger daughter. She breaths out a mental sigh of relief. There is no ring on his ring finger. She calmly finishes pouring the steaming, fragrant Kona coffee for everyone and goes right back into the kitchen for the plate of freshly baked cookies.
Where is Joseph? Why isn't he here? Did he not drop down to his knee and propose to Stephanie at her hotel room door? Helen places the plate on the table and takes her seat. Why is Ranger's arm wrapping so intimately around Stephanie's shoulders? And OH MY GOD did I just caught Stephanie putting her hand on his thigh out of the corner of my eyes?
Grandma comes out of her room, holds her head up proudly and twirls twice to show off her Muumuu dress like Gisele on the runway. Frank grimaces at his mother-in-law, mutters something under his breath and concentrates back on the coffee, the cookies, and his box of macadamia chocolates. Helen Plum picks up a cookie and starts chewing numbly. Her family keeps on laughing, eating and chatting happily, but she sees, hears and feels nothing. All she can think of is WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED IN HAWAII?
-END of Punch 10: Paradise, Hawaiian Style -