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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.
When he got almost to the north end of the city, he turned and headed up a small hill. He pulled into the parking lot and
turned off the car. It was quiet here, it being off-season and all. Henry turned to look at her with a small smile.
“Come with me?” he asked.
Jia nodded. She’d go anywhere with him. She’d follow him into the sun.
It was late afternoon, and the heat was at its highest. Jia closed her eyes for one brief moment and took a deep breath. After
the chaos of the day, the quiet of the desert hit her, and she felt fortified by it.
Henry walked around to her side and stood in front of her, blocking her from the blinding sun. With it hiding behind his tall frame, illuminating him from behind, he looked like an angel. She smiled at him, and he grabbed her hand, and they walked into the visitors center.
Henry got them two tickets for the Aerial Tramway. Jia remembered riding this as a kid, but it had been years since she’d
been to the top of the mountain. The ticket counter was busier than she expected, and the small number of cars in the parking
lot didn’t reflect all the people inside. She looked down at her watch and then out the window and realized it.
Henry and Jia and all these other people would make it to the top close to sunset.
“I promise I’ll feed you after,” Henry said.
Jia leaned into him and put her head on his shoulder. “Always coming to my rescue,” she said.
“And you mine,” he replied.
She didn’t know what that meant. Jia hadn’t rescued Henry, not like he had her. Twice now, he’d put on his lawyer hat and
saved Jia from her enemies, from her own peril.
They boarded the tram and started the slow journey up into the sky. Jia stood near the window in the back of the car, watching
the city move farther and farther away as they made the climb. Henry stood behind her, her back against his chest, his hand
steadying her on her hip.
Their tram car had a family and two other couples aboard, so Jia remained quiet despite all the questions she wanted to ask
Henry. It could wait.
When they got to the top, Henry got off and offered Jia his hand to help her step out. Most people went inside the visitor
area in the air conditioning, but Henry and Jia walked to the outdoor observation deck and stood side by side, taking in the
view.
“Thank you, Henry,” Jia started, “for coming today. For helping Mimi. For helping me.”
“Jia,” Henry said.
“And thank you, for saving the day in New York too, at the Bakerson’s Group. I know that couldn’t have been easy,” she said
before he could brush off what he’d done for her.
“I quit,” he said, like it was no big deal.
She whipped her head around to face him. “What? You loved that job. It wasn’t because of me, was it?”
“I didn’t love that job. In fact, I hated it. And I hated who I was doing it. And quitting was most certainly because of you.
I couldn’t stand how they treated you and the other women. They might have been able to find a loophole with the law, but
it didn’t negate the fact that they mistreated you. I just didn’t want to do it anymore. In fact, I don’t want to do New York
anymore.” He let out a sigh like he’d just admitted a truth he’d been hiding for a long time.
Jia wrapped her hand around his. She didn’t want to assume what this could mean for them. She wouldn’t get her hopes up.
She asked what had been on her mind since the moment he walked into the office today. “How did you end up working with Mimi?
Last time I asked you to help with this issue, you said you weren’t able to.”
She hadn’t meant to sound hurt, but she was a little. She’d asked, and he’d said no. So what had changed?
“I was scared of getting involved . . . emotionally,” he said.
“With the residents? Or with me?” Jia asked.
He looked down at her, and the side of his mouth lifted. God she loved that small smile of his.
“Both.”
“And you’re not anymore?” Jia pressed.
“Scared shitless,” he admitted. “But unwilling to walk away from them. From you.”
He turned his body to face hers, and she met him there. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. He smelled
woody and fresh. Jia wanted to bury her nose in his neck.
“I agreed to help Mimi because I had something worth fighting for. Something I cared enough to risk it all for. That’s you.
And her. And Dennis. And the people at The Sunset. All of it.”
“That’s amazing, Henry. But I don’t want you to give up your whole life for this. I don’t even know if I’m staying here, to
be honest. I still have to find a job and—”
“You have a job. If you want it, that is. When Mimi came and asked me for help at first, it wasn’t about your parents and
Matthew. It was about working with the board at Sunset Hills to secure a new community manager position. One that will oversee
the property and the residents. One that they want to offer to you,” he explained.
“What? Are you serious?” Jia couldn’t believe it. It had become her dream job, something she’d secretly hoped could form in
reality. One she was going to suggest to them once she got up the nerve to do so. She wanted to stay at The Sunset and continue
to help the residents, and she hoped that there could be a way to make it her life’s career, her calling.
“Yup. I have the offer letter with me in the car. It’s a small but livable salary. And there’s housing included. So you still
get to be the youngest resident of Sunset Hills. A badge of honor you relish, I know.” He laughed. And she laughed with him.
She couldn’t believe it. She could stay.
She’d have to deal with her parents and the aftermath of the day. And she’d have to tie up all the loose ends back in New York. But she could stay.
“Henry,” she squealed, “I can stay!” She jumped at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, squeezing him into a hug. His
arms embraced her back and held her tight. Jia pulled back, brimming with energy. “I have so many ideas about how to better
everyone’s quality of life here. Not just fun events. But I was thinking about how we could incorporate things like health
screenings and palliative care when it becomes necessary. And after today, I’m certain that some of the residents could use
legal advice and counsel to know their rights as elders. And maybe even, I don’t know, have a small vintage clothing and wares
shop on the grounds that could be open to the public and help make some extra cash for the residents.” She still couldn’t
believe she was being offered a job and could get paid to do it all.
She let out a deep breath and closed her eyes. “I’m so happy.”
“I’m happy for you,” Henry said. Jia opened her eyes to find him looking at her, a wide smile on his face.
“And you? What’s next for you?”
He placed his hands on her hips and touched his forehead to hers. “Well, I’m going to stick around here for a while. I figured,
if you can find yourself at Sunset Hills, maybe I can get a little of that magic and find myself too.”
“There are so many people that could use your guidance and expertise,” Jia added. “Lots of chances to pull that hero shit
you’ve been doing so well lately,” she teased. “Trading in your bespoke suit for a cape.”
“I draw the line at wearing tights, though,” he said.
“We’ll see,” she said. “Bet I could convince you to wear some superhero tights.”
“You are so very convincing,” he said.
He leaned down and whispered against her lips, “Secret is I’d do anything for you.” And he kissed her.
It was warm and tasted slightly salty, and she wanted to crawl into his mouth and just let his tongue do its magic. God, she
loved this man. “I love you.” She decided to be brave and say it aloud.
“Love you too, sweet Jia.” He kissed her again. “Gorgeous Jia” and again. “Vibrant Jia” and again.
This man was very good with words.
Jia noticed the sky had started its show, pink when they arrived, darkening into the hues of orange now.
“It’s sunset,” she said, turning in Henry’s arms to face the horizon.
He wrapped himself around her from behind, bending to rest his chin on her shoulder. “Best time of the day. Living in New
York, I never even thought about sunset. It was just day and then suddenly night. How had I missed the magic of the transition,
the in-between time?”
“It’s different out here in the desert. I never noticed it in New York either. But here? I try to never miss it.”
“Let’s try to catch it as often as we can together,” Henry said.
It was the most romantic proposition she’d ever received.
“Absolutely,” Jia said back.
“Whenever we can, I’ll see you at the sunset.”
It was a promise. Between two people in love.
And it was everything Jia had ever dreamed of and more.