Page 82 of See You at the Sunset

Tears ran down Jia’s cheeks. She looked to the surprised expression on her mother’s face and the bowed head of her father.

“Wow,” Mimi whispered in awe. “Our Hank is well and truly in love with you.”

Henry turned back to Jia. “Yes, I am.”

“What?” Jia couldn’t believe her ears. Henry was in love with her. “You’re in love with me?”

Henry tucked his lips under his teeth, hiding his smile. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“But I make your life a pain. I exasperate you. I argue with you about everything. I... I pushed Dennis too hard, and he got hurt.”

“No, don’t you dare take that on yourself. Dennis’s accident was just that. And he’s fine. He’ll be fine. That was not your fault, and I won’t let you blame the woman I love for something she had nothing to do with,” Henry said.

“You love me,” she said. This time no longer a question. “And I love you,” she added.

“Look, this is all really touching and all. But what about the deal? Mimi’s house? Hello?” Matthew waved his hand trying to get everyone’s attention.

“There won’t be a deal,” Jia’s father said.

“In fact, we may be opening an investigation into some of your real estate handlings in the recent history here in Palm Springs. Something doesn’t seem right about it all, and we’ll need to check it out, just in case,” Hadley said.

Matthew turned white as a ghost. “Everyone, out! Out of my office. Take your crazy family and leave me alone.”

“With pleasure,” Mimi said, standing up and gathering her purse.

Jia’s father and mother walked over to her, faces grim. “Jia,” her mom started.

“It’s okay, Mom.”

“But it’s not, Jia. We’re worried, we’ve only ever just been worried about you,” her dad added.

“Well, I guess this is something we’re all gonna have to work on. Communicating honestly. And maybe accepting each other as we are,” Jia said.

“C’mon, everyone. Let’s go back to my place and hash it out. I’ve got a good mind to ice you guys out of my life for the next year or so just to make you see what life without me and Jia would be like. But I’m not that cruel,” Mimi said. She turned to the woman beside her. “Hadley, thank you,” she added. “And you.” Mimi placed both hands on Henry’s cheeks. “You’re a good boy. Don’t mess this up.” She patted him gently and let go. “Love you, Jia girl.” Mimi wrapped Jia in a hug.

“Love you too, Mimi.”

“Now, take my granddaughter out to dinner, have some drinks, and get a hotel for the night. I don’t want to see either of you for at least twenty-four hours, maybe forty-eight if the gettin’s good.”

“Mimi!” Jia cried, cheeks blushing.

“Look, everyone at The Sunset has a vested interest in you two getting together. We’ve worked hard for this. Give us a reason to celebrate, would you? We don’t get enough of those at our old age.”

“I’m on it, Mimi,” Henry said. Standing next to Jia, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he looked down into her eyes and smiled. “You heard the woman. Let’s get out of here.”

“Why do I get the feeling everyone else was in cahoots trying to push this agenda?” Jia said, pointing between the two of them.

“Don’t give them all the credit. I was pushing pretty hard myself,” he admitted.

Jia smiled.

She looked over her shoulder one last time and said, “See ya later, snake.” And walked out of the office into the Palm Springs heat with the man she loved.

33

They were quiet in the car. Like they hadn’t just gone through a battle together. Or maybe because they had.

Jia didn’t know where Henry was taking her. He drove straight down Indian Canyon Road. There were only two main streets downtown. This one led toward Sunset Hills. But she had a feeling they weren’t going there.