Page 67 of See You at the Sunset

“It’s been a good couple weeks, hasn’t it, Hank?” Dennis bit into his burger. They’d stopped to get lunch at the In-N-Out nearby. Henry couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a fast-food burger. It was incredible. “I gotta say, I’ve really loved having you out here. Made making this move a lot easier. Thanks for taking care of all the details, big and small.”

“I’m glad I could come,” Henry said. “I, well, I wish I could stay longer.” And he meant it. The thought of going back to New York had dulled somewhat for Henry. He couldn’t imagine his empty apartment, his endless hours of work, his solo existence, being in the center of any of it.

The moment he got back into town he’d have to hit the ground running, working with Genevieve on the investigation into the claims made in the lawsuit. If Henry had any influence, he would try to push the executives toward mediation. No one wanted this going to court. It would be damaging to the company’s reputation. And even if there were substantiated evidence, with all the money, power, and resources on Bakerson’s side, they’d spin it in a way that would end up hurting the women involved. Hurting Jia. Henry couldn’t let it happen.

When he received the full brief, for a moment he’d hoped Jia wouldn’t be listed. But ultimately, he was glad she had taken this stand for herself. It was the one thing he wanted for her.

Never mind that Henry personally was listed as one of the defendants on the claim. He was the one who’d signed the paperwork, after all. It was clear that wasn’t a mistake. If this turned south, Henry could very well be the one to take the fall. Hell, he’d probably been set up for that from the beginning.

Henry pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing back the headache threatening to break through. He didn’t want to ruin a good day.

“There’s something I have to tell you, and I think now’s a good time to do it,” Dennis said. It sounded serious. Henry immediately froze, waiting for the bad news. Dennis was sick. Dennis was dying. Dennis needed help.

“I love you.”

Henry pulled back, completely blindsided by the admission. Their family wasn’t the type to sayI love yous. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d ever heard it spoken in his presence.

“I don’t tell you that enough. I didn’t tell your dad that enough, and I sense he never told you either. A book I was reading mentioned generational curses, and, well, as ominous and heavy as that sounds, this is one I want to break.”

“I, um, I... I love you too, Granddad.” Henry chuckled. The words felt almost silly coming out of his mouth.

“Appreciate it, Hank. And I meant what I said to that woman who took our picture. I’m so proud of the man you’ve become. You didn’t have it easy. Your parents weren’t that great.”

Henry really didn’t want to be talking about his parents right now—or ever, to be honest.

“They were shitty parents, but I do believe they’re not bad people. And if I can say that after they took my money, well, I hope you can get to that point too. Not for them, but for you. They’re selfish and unreliable, sure. But not evil.” Dennis wiped his hands with his napkin and laid one on top of Henry’s. “You know, they live in their own punishment every day by having lost a relationship with you. I’d never ask you to give them any more chances. But I will ask you to let yourself off the hook. You didn’t deserve being left to fend for yourself. But you came out on top. You don’t have to carry around that anger anymore, Hank.”

Henry’s face heated. Tears welled in the back of his eyes. “I don’t know if I can let it go.” He struggled to get the words out. The truth hurt too. Who would he be without his drive to succeed as a way to punish his parents for abandoning him, for never allowing him to feel like he was enough to stay?

“I think if you let yourself, you could probably replace that anger with a whole lotta love. And I know of a really special someone worth that love.”

“Mind your own business, old man.” Henry squeezed Dennis’s hand and smiled. He didn’t mean it. He could use a lot more of his grandfather’s wisdom in his life. He wouldn’t let months, or even weeks, go by without it again.

“And Henry. Don’t worry about me. I’ll take my pills. As long as you promise me you’ll take yours too.”

Touché.

It was Henry’s last night in town, and he wanted to spend it with Jia. He’d made reservations for them for dinner and gotten a room at a hotel after. He wanted uninterrupted time to say goodbye.

Billy Reed’s was a favorite among locals, an older crowd, a restaurant steeped in history and nostalgia. When he got back to New York, Henry would miss places like this—a home to generations of stories quieter than ones in the city, tales regaling of the desert’s magic. They sat in a red leather booth and immediately ordered dirty martinis and steaks.

“I love this place,” Jia said, wistfully scanning the large space, black-and-white photos of patrons and town history and copies of newspaper articles decorating the walls.

“So do I,” Henry said. Though, he’d meant it beyond just the restaurant. He meant the town with its contradictions of old ice-cream shops and new pizza places. The streets with classic cars driving next to new electric vehicles. The mid-century modern homes and the flashy glass-faced condos. And the quiet little paradise of Sunset Hills just at the northern border of it all.

“Are you gonna miss it?”

“I’m certain I will. I’ll miss Dennis. I’ll miss the others. I’ll miss Zumba,” he said and winked at Jia. “I’ll miss you.”

She met his eyes and smiled, but there was a sadness behind it. “I’ll see you soon enough, I guess. I just wish the circumstances were different.”

Jia and Henry had agreed not to talk about the case. He meant it when he’d told her it was a conflict of interest. But he also didn’t want her to back out because of him. He wanted her to do what was right for her.

The first meeting between the parties was scheduled for a week from now in New York.

“Do your parents know?” he asked.

“No. I don’t think they’d take it well. I’ve only told Mimi. And swore her to keep it between us.”