Page 23 of See You at the Sunset

Jia realized she was wearing her grandma’s cotton rose-patterned pants that were about six inches too short and a white polo shirt. Maybe she’d been around Mimi and her friends a little too much lately, because this morning in the mirror she’d convinced herself that the outfit was desert chic. Seeing herself through Matthew’s eyes, she likely looked like someone planning a retirement party who borrowed an outfit from her grandmother’s closet. Which was exactly what she had done.

She really did need to get to the airport and pick up her luggage with her own clothes. The airline had called yesterday afternoon letting her know that they’d found her suitcase and she could either have it delivered to her address or come and pick it up. She told them she was in no rush. Apparently that was very true, since she had no issues borrowing another outfit from Mimi today. It was almost like a game she played while she was here in Palm Springs. What could she put together from the treasure chest of clothing that was her grandmother’s wardrobe?

This was very unlike Jia. In New York, she took fashion very seriously. But since she’d been in Palm Springs, it didn’t seem to matter as much. It wasn’t a priority.

“Happy hour at The Sunset. You’re welcome to join,” she said.

“Sounds like a good time.” His smile widened, and Jia’s heart rate sped up. Man, he had a very good smile.

“Oh, it will be. The old-timers know how to party,” she said. This time she gave him a sexy little smile herself. She’d have to use every weapon in her arsenal if she was going to get his attention while dressed like a Golden Girl.

He laughed. “I bet.”

Jia had heard rumors and urban legends about what happened behind the gates of some of these senior living communities. Sunset Hills wasn’t one of those party places, however, where swingers supposedly resided and STDs ran rampant.

Still, it was one of the most fun places she’d ever visited. Jia had very quickly made herself right at home. She was embraced by the surly older residents, and she loved them right back. They were fascinating and told the best stories. They never seemed to judge her like people her own age did. Or look at her with disappointment like her parents did. And, after seeing how eager they were to have a good time, Jia basically inserted herself as the event planner to the stars, the stars being the old folks who wanted to live life to the fullest for as long as they could.

“I didn’t get to ask at the airport, but what brings you here to Palm Springs during the off-season?” she asked.

“I actually live and work here part-time. The other half in LA. But I tend to be up here for weeks, months on end if necessary.”

“And what makes it necessary?” she asked, genuinely curious. If someone their age could make a living here, she wanted to know. It felt like a tempting possibility.

“I’d say, the number of happy hours with Malibu and pineapple.” He nodded to the bottle in Jia’s hand and the other one in her basket.

He really was cute, and the banter was not bad. Maybe Jia could have some fun while she was out here. She couldn’t tell if he was interested or not. But she had a happy hour to get to, so she didn’t have the time or energy to figure it out now. “I gotta get going,” she said. “Don’t want to make the party crowd wait.”

“Hope I’ll be seeing you around again?” he said.

“It’s a small town,” she said. “I’m sure you will.”

“The Malibu and pineapple drink station is all set up. Louise is on the blender for the frosé. And the cooler is stocked with White Claws and water. How’s it going in here?” Jia asked her grandmother and the small army she’d amassed to come help set up for the happy hour.

It’s like the residents had been starving for a reason to get together. And all they needed was someone to sayLet’s do it. Jia was happy to be that person. To be honest, Jia’s social life felt fuller and richer here among the septua- and octogenarians of Sunset Hills than it had living in New York among people her own age. More meaningful, at least. And she had fewer hours in the wakened day to work with here, so she made them count.

“Pigs in a blanket, check. Chips and guacamole, check. And Chester is bringing his world-famous charcuterie board. That just leaves the gimbap I’m gonna make, and we’re all good to go.” Her grandmother looked up at her with a smile.

“Amazing. It’s shaping up to be quite a shindig,” Jia said.

“Thanks to you. You’re really good at this, ya know?” Mimi leaned back into Jia, and Jia placed a kiss on her cheek. She had no skills that made her employable. But a happy hour she could do.

“If only pigs in a blanket looked as impressive on a résumé as they do on this platter,” Jia said. She tried not to get discouraged. But it had been a couple weeks with tons of applications filled out and résumés sent into the world. And not one response, not even a rejection.

“Don’t stress over your work situation, hon. We’re here for a party. The rest can wait.” Mimi’s words comforted her. She was right. Nothing was going to get solved tonight anyways.

Jia watched as Mimi laid all the ingredients for rolling gimbap out on the limited countertop space. The kitchen was wide enough, but the layout was so outdated. Mimi enjoyed cooking so much she deserved a better workspace. “Hey, Mimi, what would you think of doing a little renovation of your kitchen? Maybe some fresh cabinet doors? Move this table here and put an island in the middle? You’ve always wanted an island, right?”

“I have. I even have some money put aside to do work on the house. But it’s been sitting there for decades. Your dad doesn’t want me to fix it up lest the value go underwater.”

Jia didn’t know what that even meant. But if Mimi wanted an island, and she had some money to get one, why not? “We just won’t tell him. When was the last time he came out here anyways? They’re always making us come to Florida for holidays. What if I called around and got some quotes?” Jia offered.

A huge smile spread across Mimi’s face. “I like the way you think, kid.”

Jia’s heart warmed knowing she was going to help Mimi do something that would make her happy.

“We haven’t done one of these welcome parties in a long time. This is a hoot,” Louise called out over the blender. “Great idea, Jia.”

“Why haven’t we done one of these in so long?” Betty asked as she stirred together her pasta salad.