Chapter 11: Without Jenny

Val thought texting Jenny would make him feel relieved, free, that he'd be closing a door he'd never want opened again. He was wrong... if anything, it made him feel as if the end of the world was around the corner. He felt the most painful death imaginable would be nothing compared to what he was suffering.
He had awaken from his drunken slumber around dinner time, but he was not hungry. So, after sending Jenny the text message decided to go back to bed. He doubted he'd be able to sleep though, but figured that on an empty stomach he'd get drunk and pass out again quite easily if he downed the other half of the bottles he hadn't get to the previous time. And of course it worked... he still had two bottles left when he fell asleep.
It was early morning when his cell phone woke him up... Val didn't need to look at the phone to know who was calling. It was the ringtone he had setup only for Jenny. He answered the phone... After telling Jenny Val was dead and hanging up on her, he realized Val was not all that was dead... he was dead inside. He was suddenly aware he no longer felt anything. His heart, his soul were more than just broken so he knew he'd never heal. He'd never be the same... he'd never be able to love any other woman. And with that realization, his next move; and his whole future; was made clear.
He called a local real estate agent and made an appointment. Since he had two hours to kill, decided to start tying up loose ends... He called a taxi to pick him up and checked out of the Inn.
His first stop was at the Hospital where he got his doctor to print him a statement certifying he was clear for driving a car. Val didn't want to have to go through the bother of finding himself refused a car at the rental company. He had had the taxi wait for him and on leaving the Hospital asked the driver to drop him at the downtown Hertz location as it was the closest one.
Val left Hertz driving a light grey Honda Civic and went straight home. He turned a corner into his street just in time to see Jenny get in the car and drive away following a moving van. Relieved he wouldn't have to risk running into Jenny, Val parked the rental car in his driveway and went into the house. He came out less than half and hour later changed into fresh clothes, carrying his laptop and munching on a croissant.
Val got to the Realtor's office a good ten minutes ahead of time, but since she was free he was ushered in right away. They started the paperwork, Val provided all the information the Realtor needed and then she printed what had to be printed. With that part of the process out of the way the Realtor followed Val back to the house to take photos for the listing and appraise the possible selling price.
"I need it sold within two weeks" Val said. "Price it below market if needed. Go as low as you have to so that it goes quick."
"Max, this is a very nice house and the location is fantastic. I think you should reconsider your decision" the Realtor advised. "We could get a pretty handsome amount for it."
"I understand... but I don't care about the money as long as I cover the mortgage and get around half of my down payment back." Val explained and then added on seeing the doubtful look on the Realtor's face "I'm leaving the country and don't plan to come back for a very long time... maybe never. So, I need the house sold ASAP."
The real estate agent nodded her understanding...
"I'll return to my office, do a bit of market research and email you the price I decide should do the job. Once you agree to it, I'll publish the listing and arrange for an open house this weekend."
"Sounds good. I'll vacate the house between today and tomorrow" said Val as they walked to the door for the real estate agent to leave. "I'll call you right before I move out to hand over the key."
"No need" said the Realtor taking a box from her purse. "This is a lock box" she showed Val a metal box with a keypad in the front.
"Yeah, I've seen those before."
"Are you familiar with how it works?"
"Yup. We put the front door key inside, attach it to something near the door; I guess the front steps railing should do fine; and close it." Val said. "Key in the pin number and the box will open."
"Correct. I'll leave this with you then. The pin number is set to 9616. Please, don't change it" she handed him the box. "Whenever you go out; and of course, once you move; set up the lock box with the key inside on the railing."
The Realtor left and true to her word, an hour later she emailed Val the selling price. Val stopped packing to respond.
"Price ok. Please, proceed" he emailed her back and then continued packing.
Val was leaving all the furniture, towels, linens, everything in the kitchen except for his coffee mug- a gift from his long gone Dad- so packing didn't take him that long. He was done before midnight and decided to take a shower before going to bed. And that was when he saw it... Jenny's message written in lipstick on their bathroom mirror sent a jolt of pain to the deepest corners of his soul.
With tears rolling down his cheeks, he cleaned it carefully. And for the first time since he made his decision to end their relationship so abruptly; for the first time in his life; he doubted himself. He had never felt so lost, so vulnerable... He had thought earlier that day that he was dead inside. Was he ever wrong! The pain, the grief, the hatred he was feeling made that clear. But none of that mattered... his plans would take care of it all. Where he was going, what he intended to do, would keep him in such a state of emotional numbness that although the pain would probably never go away, it would no longer bother him.
He looked at his watch... just past midnight... his friend in Portugal might not be up yet, but he should be pretty close to waking up. It was pretty early in the morning where he was, but Val seemed to recall him being an early bird.
It was an old friend of his; David; who was in the car racing business. Once, some time after he had started dating Jenny, David had told him that he was a very gifted driver. Val remembered that conversation as if it had just happened.

"Max," David had said "you are an amazing driver. Your reflexes and cool head behind the car wheel have no match."
"I don't know, Dave..." Val had answered, trying to turn down his friend without offending him. "Car racing can be pretty dangerous... and I really have finally found my soul mate, the woman I want to spend all my life with, have children, grow old together..."
"I can respect that" his friend nodded, and then added with a mischievous smile "but if you ever change your mind and decide you want to know what real excitement is, what true adrenaline feels like, give me a call and come race for me."

Val dialed his friend 's number. It took a while but he eventually picked up the phone.
"Hello...?" a sleepy voice answered the call.
"Hey Dave, it's Max... sorry to wake you up old buddy."
"Max! Good to hear your voice, Mate." Dave said between yawns. "No worries... I meant to get up early today... I probably forgot to turn on the alarm... had one of those nights..." he chuckled "if you know what I mean."
"Good old Dave" said Val laughing "glad to see some things never change" he stopped laughing and his voice turned suddenly sad. "Hey listen... is that offer to have me race for you still open?"
"What happened to starting a family and planning a future with your woman, Max?" Dave said teasingly, but then his tone became serious. Something in the way Val asked that question said it was not the time for jokes. "Are you alright, Mate?"
"Yeah, I'm fine" lied Val. "It just wasn't going to work... so?"
"Well, yes Max! I'd be delighted to have you on the team. Look, I'm tied up for the next few days, but as soon as I'm done here I'll catch the first flight I can get a sit in and go see you. We can then go over details and stuff."
"No need, Dave" Val said "I'm selling the house and leaving within two weeks. Heading your way. Think you could find me an apartment to rent close to you?"
"No, no, no Max" Dave said vehemently. "My friend and star racing driver will not rent... you'll stay here with me, in my Villa. I'll get one of my empty units set up for you."
"No, really Dave. I don't want to inconvenience..." Val could not finish the sentence.
"Nonsense, Man... you move in here. And that's final. I'll email you the address so you can get your stuff shipped here; and call me when you've booked the flight. I'll pick you up at the airport."
David's tone left no room for arguments and Val found himself agreeing to the accommodation arrangements as they said their goodbye's.
The following morning, after a shower he had put off the night before as he was too tired, Val found David's address in an email. He then called an International moving company and made the required arrangements. Next, he called the real estate agent.
"Oh, good morning Max. Perfect timing... I was about to call you" said the Realtor on answering the phone.
 "I'm calling to let you know I'm ready to move out. My stuff will be picked up in a couple of hours. I'll be here until then and after that you'll find me at the Skier's Inn."
"Wonderful! Well, I have pretty good news. We have someone coming to see the house at 2 pm, and someone else at 3:30" she said and then added "and if we don't have any offers by Friday evening, I've arranged for an open house for Saturday morning."
"Great! Keep me posted" said Val.
"I will."
Val hang up and was about to make a final inspection around the house to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything when he realized he had neglected an important detail...
"Darn! I didn't tell Dave I'm still in rehab and walking with crutches" he said out loud, and grabbed his cell phone to call his friend again.
"Hi Dave, it's Max..."
"Hey Max, what's up?" answered Dave. "You're not calling to say you've changed your mind, are you?"
"No, I'm not... but I forgot to tell you something and you might change your mind about me racing for you" a bit of concern could be heard in Val's voice.
"I doubt it, Mate... but let's hear it."
"I had an accident skiing... broke both legs... the cast are gone but I'm still walking with crutches and in rehab."
There was a moment of silence on the other side of the line and Val thought his plans were about to go up in smoke... The silence was suddenly replaced by a rumbling laughter. Val could almost picture his friend rolling on the floor clutching the phone and felt instantly relieved.
"Is that it, Max?" Dave asked when he finally could speak again. "Is that what got you concerned?"
"I guess that's not a problem then" Val said timidly.
"Not at all, Mate!" Like you once said... Racing cars is a risky occupation, and accidents do happen. No worries, Max. We have the best medical services money can buy."
"Whew, that's a relief!"
"And I'll tell you more... our rehab specialist will likely make the doctors you've been seeing look like amateurs."
"I guess I should have expected that" Val commented "but I felt bad I had forgotten to tell you."
"That's ok. You probably have lots on your mind... but I'm glad you've just told me rather than making it a surprise at the airport" Dave chuckled. "Now that I know, I'll make arrangements to have one of our therapists ready for you when you arrive so we can start treatments ASAP."
Val was about to reply when the front door bell rang. He looked out the window and saw the moving van parked outside, earlier than he had expected.
"Look Dave, I've got to go. The moving guys are at my door. I'm told my stuff will reach your place in about six days. I'll email you their confirmation along with delivery and tracking details as soon as I have it all."
"Sounds good, Max. If your stuff arrives ahead of you, I'll have it all unloaded into the unit I'm setting up for you. See you soon."
The friends hang up and Val opened the door to let the moving guys in. Once his belongings were safely loaded into the van and the formalities completed, Val grabbed his suitcase and backpack- the only two items he was carrying with him on the flight to Portugal- locked the front door, stored the key in the lock box he had already attached to the railing and left.
A few minutes later he was checked-in at the Inn and in his room; his laptop on a table; looking at flight options. Later that afternoon the Realtor called again.
"Hi Max. How soon can you be in my office?" there was excitement in her voice. "We have an offer and I believe we have a winner!"
A few days later, Val was on a plane on his way to Portugal; the house sold, his bank accounts closed and all his money transferred to an account Dave had opened for him.
The months that followed Val's arrival to Portugal were tedious but busy. A therapist moved into Dave's villa and spent most of her waking hours working with Val in his rehab treatment. It wasn't easy but they were making good progress faster than Val expected at first. Their efforts were finally rewarded when several months later all physical exams showed Val was fully recovered and ready for action.