Mr. Big (3 page)

Plus, there was part of her that felt like Nelson could use her help, no matter how self-sufficient he appeared to be.

“All right, it's a done deal,” she blurted out.

Within two days they had packed all her belongings and moved them across the street to building number three.

To her new home and partner.

8

Jennifer rolls over and looks at the numbers on the alarm clock. Finally, a place to call her own.

Jennifer had never felt better in her life than at this moment. Her job was perfect, and the tips were great. Nelson had welcomed her into his home, and it felt like her place.

It was somewhat challenging as she rounded up her belongings and figured out what space would be hers. But that morning she felt comfortable there. Lying in his bed, she watched him sleep. She hoped this was the man she would spend the rest of her life with. Even though he seemed to need a lot of help, there was something about Nelson that made Jennifer feel safe and wanted.

As a couple, they didn't go to fancy places or even to the bar much. But it was a good relationship.

This would be a great Christmas, she was sure.

“Nelson,” shouted a voice from the living room. “Are you up?”

Jennifer was startled. Who would be in his apartment while they were still in bed?”

“That's Mom,” said Nelson. “What the hell does she think she's at?”

Jennifer scrambled to get dressed. Nelson was already in his clothes and out in the living room. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could tell by the sound of their voices that they weren't getting along. Nelson hadn't really talked a lot about his mother, but Jennifer already knew their relationship was strained.

“Hello,” said Jennifer as she made her way into the room.

“Hi. I see you have all your things moved in. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. We had a bit of a late night, though.”

9

It was March. Not the best time of year for travelling on the Trans-Canada Highway in Newfoundland, but Nelson and Jennifer decided to help out a friend.

Stacy needed to take a four-hour trip into St. John's to visit her son in the hospital, and she was going to take a taxi. But she didn't want to go alone, so Jennifer and Nelson decided to tag along for company. They were up and ready to go before sunrise.

“Are you sure you can drive around the city?” Jennifer asked the cabbie as they got into the car.

But they were barely in St. John's before they realized the taxi driver wasn't exactly used to city driving, and they encountered several problems trying to get to the hospital. In fact, it took two hours of driving around the city before they finally reached their destination.

Amazingly, they managed to get there on time. But after managing the traffic, they were then tasked with navigating their way around a massive hospital to find Stacy's son.

For part of the day they gave Stacy some privacy, but they also spent some time visiting as well.

Jennifer was glad, though, when they finally left St. John's that evening. The weather had taken a turn for the worse and a spring storm was moving in.

“Are you sure we should drive back in this weather?” Jennifer asked the driver. He didn't say anything, and the three of them piled into the car anyway. Out on the highway, Jennifer was getting nervous.

“Slow down,” she yelled. She was watching the speedometer and could hardly believe the driver was reaching speeds of 110 kph in the snow and slush. “You're going to get us all killed.”

“Listen here,” he said. “I've got to have this car back in Gander in a couple of hours, so there's no time to spare.”

It was 2:00 p.m. and they were just approaching Clarenville. Jennifer knew there was no way the driver would make it back in time, and she was afraid for her life.

From time to time she could feel the car swaying when he'd pull out to pass. Several times she caught herself gritting her teeth in fear.

She had taken her eyes away from the window for only a moment when she looked up to see the trees flying past the car and scraping the windows. They hit several hard bumps before the car eventually came to a halt in the ditch.

The driver opened his door and got out, as did her friend Stacy, who was in the back seat with Jennifer.

At first Jennifer was afraid to move, unsure of whether or not she was injured. But she quickly came to her senses.

Nelson was crying. Shrieking, more like it, in the front seat. His head was slumped down between the two seats in an unnatural position. Jennifer quickly and gently grabbed his head and repositioned it up against the back of the seat. The cab driver waved down help, and it wasn't long before all four of them were on their way to the hospital in Clarenville. The paramedics had placed a collar on Nelson's neck, but he continued to scream in pain.

At the hospital, everyone was examined and released, even Nelson. Of course, Jennifer stayed by his side through a variety of tests. Finally, the doctor simply explained that he would need follow-up treatment at the hospital in Gander.

Jennifer and Nelson made it back to their apartment late that evening. Jennifer went to bed, but Nelson decided to sleep on the couch. As Jennifer was getting dressed, she decided to check in on Nelson once more before getting some much-needed sleep.

To her surprise, he was trying to reach the phone.

“Who are you calling at this hour?” she asked.

“I have to go the hospital now,” he replied. “Something's not right.”

At four o'clock in the morning, Jennifer and Nelson were on their way back to St. John's, this time on board an air ambulance.

Doctors and nurses were rushing around and explaining things that Jennifer didn't understand. In the end she learned that Nelson had broken his C2 vertebrae and was lucky to be alive. But there was a long road of recovery ahead.

For the next twenty-six days, Jennifer slept sitting in a chair by Nelson's bedside in the hospital. She returned to the hostel only to shower and change, but Nelson always hated for her to leave.

When he was finally able to return home, there was only temporary relief for Jennifer. Infection set into his wounds.

They ended up back in the hospital, where, again, Jennifer would spend weeks sitting by Nelson's bedside as he recovered.

10

With the winter, and Nelson's injuries, behind them, that June was especially welcomed. Life was finally returning to normal.

Nelson had been up late the night before, and this morning he was still asleep. Jennifer expected he wouldn't be getting up for at least a couple of hours.

She kept the volume of the radio on low, trying not to wake him. Nelson hated to wake up before he was ready. She started getting ready for the day ahead as quietly as she could. Even though breakfast wasn't started, she was contemplating what to take out of the freezer for tonight's supper.

But surprisingly, her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when she heard Nelson slowly waking up and shuffling around the room. She stuck her head out around the corner to have a look in the bedroom, and sure enough, he was sitting on the edge of the bed.

“You should go back to sleep,” she said. “You had a late night.” The truth was Nelson slept a lot, but she found it a lot easier to get her chores done when he was out of the way.

No answer.

Jennifer switched her tasks and started in on making Nelson's breakfast. Toast, eggs, fried potato, and bologna. Jennifer quickly got to work. She dragged out the old frying pan and started heating the oil.

But Nelson's silence was somewhat unusual, and she had another look around the corner. He was in the washroom.

She went back to running the water for the kettle when she heard his voice coming from the bathroom. He was obviously talking to himself, but she couldn't understand what he was saying. The one thing she could gather was that he certainly wasn't in a good mood. He sounded like he was complaining. Almost mad.

“What's the matter?” she sang out.

“Nothing. Shut up,” he said.

Suddenly, without warning, Nelson stormed into the room with a look she hadn't seen on anyone before.

He wasn't just grumpy. He was enraged and hysterical at the same time.

“What the hell is wrong?” Jennifer shrieked.

He hissed, and one large fist lifted into the air above his head and came crashing down onto the coffee table. It smashed into two pieces.

He grabbed one piece and threw it at the wall. Another one flew into the apartment door.

Jennifer was suddenly afraid of the flying debris as Nelson continued to curse and single-handedly destroyed the coffee table in a matter of minutes.

He finally stopped.

He stood there, breathing intensely. But the look did not leave his eyes.

Jennifer came out from behind the shelter of the kitchen wall and went straight to the phone.

She shook as she pushed the numbers that would reach her mother.

“Mom, you have to come get me,” she stammered. “Something's wrong with Nelson.”

“We'll be there in a couple of hours,” her mother said.

“My son, there's something wrong with you,” Jennifer yelled. Then she went straight to her room and shut the door, where she stayed until her parents got there. It would take a while before they arrived. They had to make the long drive from the south coast of Newfoundland, but they didn't hesitate. They had sensed the urgency in Jennifer's voice.

She felt mesmerized as she packed her bag with the bedroom door locked behind her. Was this fit because of the accident? What kind of explanation could there be? There was no warning. No clues. She didn't believe she had done anything wrong. Even in the midst of the tantrum, he gave no clue or reason as to why he was upset.

There's something seriously wrong here
, she thought. But at the same time, she also felt a deep pity for Nelson and a need to help him through whatever was happening to him.

Finally, she heard her mother's voice outside. “Where is Jennifer?”

“In the room,” said Nelson.

Jennifer could hear him stomping down the stairwell while her mother was knocking on her bedroom door.

Within minutes Jennifer was in her mother's car and on her way to St. Alban's.

So much had happened. How could things go from so good to so bad in such a short period? What was the trigger? Had something happened between him and his mother? Was he choosing not to tell her whatever it was? Either way, Jennifer wasn't taking a chance on having to see him like that again. If he had hit her like that, she'd have ended up in the hospital.

Whatever was going on with Nelson, she put it behind her for the moment. Jennifer was happy to spend some time with her family. She loved the evenings by the wood stove with her mother and stepfather. Pat had been like a father to Jennifer and her sisters, and that's how the girls viewed him.

She felt safe here in St. Alban's, and she was in no hurry to leave.

However, it was only a few days before the phone rang. It was Nelson, looking for Jennifer.

“I'm sorry, I don't know what happened,” he said.

“I don't feel like it's a safe environment for me to be in, Nelson,” said Jennifer.

The next call was also from Gander.

“You need to come back. Nelson is having a hard time without you. You know he was only in a bad mood, right? Sure, he wouldn't have hurt you. Come back and it will all work out.”

“I don't like him,” said Pat. “I don't know what it is, Jennifer, but something just isn't right.”

But Nelson wasn't about to give up. The phone calls continued. Each time, more and more was promised. Each time, he begged for forgiveness.

“Maybe it was just this once,” Jennifer told her family. “Perhaps it will be different. I really feel like I need to try. Maybe it's just his sickness, and I'm the only one who can truly help him.”

“I don't think it's that's simple,” Pat told her. “But you do whatever you feel you need to do.”

The next morning, Jennifer was nervous about her decision as she sat in the back seat of Pat's car in front of the apartment building. Pat was getting her bags out of the trunk. Though she didn't like Nelson's dark side, she was also looking forward to seeing him again.

“Thanks for the help, and for letting me stay at your place.” Jennifer hugged her mother and Pat. “I know you guys don't have much room, and I appreciate you letting me stay there.”

After their goodbyes, Jennifer walked up the steps to the apartment and let herself in.

The coffee table had been replaced with a newer one. Shining wood. Like nothing had happened.

11

Dry toast was on the menu for Jennifer's breakfast. She had only been back from St. Alban's for a few days, but she hadn't been feeling well.