32 #2
to be on the same level as everyone else. But she didn’t. She could say what she needed to say sitting down, calmly, powerfully.
“Mom, Dad, you have made it clear my entire life that I have been a disappointment to you, that I have only brought hardship and heartache along with me. I have tried to overcome this sense of not being good enough, trying to mold myself into some shape of a person you could be proud of. But I didn’t fit.
Because it wasn’t who I was meant to be.
I’m sorry that I love freely. I’m sorry that I lead with joy.
I’m sorry that I live life looking at possibilities and not worried about mistakes.
No—” she stopped and thought about what she was saying “—actually, I’m not sorry.
I’m proud of who I am. I’m just sorry that you can’t accept that person.
But at the end of the day, this isn’t about me.
This is about Mimi. And I swear both in my heart and now on any legal documents I need to sign that I will take care of her her entire life.
Because she’s the one person who believes in me.
Who cheers for me. Who sees me as someone remarkable. ”
“Jia, honey, you are remarkable,” Mimi said, sitting down and grabbing Jia’s hand.
“Thanks, Mimi. And thank you for giving me a chance here this summer. To land somewhere safe and to find my own way and figure
it out myself.”
“It’s been a gift.”
“Jia, you can’t live life just to be happy. You have to be stable. You have to be successful. You have to invest in the future.
You can’t putz around in your grandmother’s retirement community like you have no responsibilities.” Jia’s mom let out a deep,
frustrated sigh as she, too, collapsed into her chair.
“I feel I need to clarify what it is your daughter does at Sunset Hills and the impact she makes on the residents. Because,
listening to you, I’m quite certain that you have no idea.” Henry looked first to Jia’s mom, then her dad, and then turned
his face to hers.
“Jia is, indeed, remarkable. She has a zest for life that is contagious. She takes the darkest of places, lost in shadows,
and she shines light. She convinces people that life is worth living and then shows them how to do so. She’s kind and funny
and affirming. And she sees people for who they are and not what they bring to the table. In fact, she sees people more clearly
when they have nothing to offer her. She’s the most incredible person I’ve ever met, and I feel sorry for you—” his eyes turned
back to Jia’s parents “—for never having known your daughter at all.”
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.