Beyond the end

Take care of yourself

Leonard had just finished loading the shuttle van to the airport; the suitcases Valerie had brought from New York had been added several filled from shopping in LA.
"Goodbye Leonard, thank you for your service" and she gave him a more than honorable tip.
The boy welcomed her with enthusiasm.
"Mrs. Malone, come back whenever you want, always at your total disposal."
Val got on the car that left slowly. SHe looked out the window and thought about the day before. She had passed by the Silver house to say goodbye to the couple of friends. David opened the door, he alarmed and had put one foot outside the house and closed the door behind his back. "What are you doing here?"
"Calm down David, I'm going back to New York, I just want to say hello: you, Donna and little Ethan," David felt like a worm.
"Sorry Valerie, for a moment...ok, come in – she opened the door and made her sit down – Donna! There's Valerie."
The three had spent an hour on the couch at home, they had played with Ethan, who was adorable; Valerie had apologized for being unpresent in those months but the work had totally absorbed her. Donna had reassured her, it was still nice to have met her. David listened in silence, just nodded or laughed at the jokes that Donna now Valerie was exchanging. A normal visiting afternoon where he couldn't look anyone in the eye. Then, he accompanied her to the door.
"I'm sorry I disappeared that way, but I was afraid I'd ruining my marriage; and then, you're a smart and beautiful woman, you deserve much more than a secret story or worse a parenthesis."
Valerie didn't listen to him either. SHe had his David in mind and that she wanted to keep. Now and always.
SHe had done what he had to. SHe had shown the wrong way for others to choose the right one. And so it was with Sanders. A long hug. A thank you for what was invisible to others. Everyone with their families. All away from her.
With Kelly things were as complicated as ever. Greetings too.
Valerie left as she had come. Sexy and unscrupulous. Los Angeles wasn't for her. The Big Apple, on the other hand, with its frenzy, dinners, business, lights and colors, managed to calm her instincts, as if numb by the speed of events. She just dissed not to have greeted Brandon who had disappeared overnight, leaving her alone in the message at the reception.
SHe opened it "take care of yourself, little Val."