Mr. Big (10 page)

In order to move the large dresser, she decided to lessen the weight by removing each of the drawers first. She struggled to move them onto the bed.

When she finally hauled the bottom drawer out, she noticed a small brown envelope. It was thick, and she wasn't sure she even wanted to know what was in it.

But she couldn't resist. Whatever it was had been put there on purpose since they had moved in.

She pulled back the flap, revealing a stack of $100 bills. A large stack. She took them out and placed them on the bed.

One by one, she began to count, her heart beating faster with each bill she counted.

With empty cupboards, and only a few diapers left, Jennifer struggled while Nelson had kept his own money hidden. In total there was $15,000. Money he had reserved for himself.

She could no longer hold back the tears as she stared at the money in disbelief. If it wasn't for Krista, who started crying, Jennifer wasn't sure she could have moved again. She felt numb.

Her hands shook as she put the bills back into the envelope and put them back under the dresser.

What would she do? If she told Nelson, he would get mad. But how could she live in poverty while he kept the money for himself?

She didn't have long to figure out how to handle it. She heard the key in the door. Nelson was home.

He threw his jacket onto the chair and flopped himself down into his usual position on the couch. The girls were in the playpen, but he walked past them like they didn't exist.

“What's wrong with you?” he sneered.

“I only have half a dozen diapers left, and there are no groceries in the cupboard. Then you come in here empty-handed. What do you think is wrong, Nelson?”

“I don't know, my dear, how we're going to pay the bills around here. There's no money, and that's it,” he said.

Jennifer couldn't handle it any longer.

“Who the hell do you think you are? Go in that room, get that money, and go buy some food for me and the girls,” she yelled. Her whole body was shaking with rage.

“Oh, you found it, did you,” he laughed. “I'll give you some of it.”

Nelson went into the room. Jennifer could hear him fumbling with the drawer, then the rattling paper.
Is he really going to give me some of the cash?
Jennifer wondered.

Nelson walked to the table with three $100 bills in his hand. But before Jennifer could take the money, he pulled a lighter out of his pocket.

Nelson set the money on fire, then threw the burning money into the ashtray.

“It's my money, not yours, and not the girls',” he said, and walked away.

There were no words to express her anger, or her fear. Jennifer gathered up the girls and, without supper, got them ready for bed.

The three of them went to bed early that night, but Jennifer didn't feel rested the next morning. Her night was restless. She got up and went through her usual routine of getting the girls ready, but this day would be far from normal.

“I can't take this anymore,” Jennifer told Nelson. “Me and the girls are leaving today. I don't have any food, and you're hiding money from us. That's not right. This marriage is over.”

“Give me your driver's licence,” Nelson demanded. “You won't be driving anywhere this day.”

But Jennifer refused, and she realized Nelson was going for her purse, which was sitting on the kitchen chair. She grabbed the purse and put it over her shoulder.

“You're not going anywhere!” he yelled. Nelson grabbed the purse from her shoulder, ripping the strap.

Jennifer ran downstairs, called the police, and waited. Finally, when she saw Nelson leave the apartment, she went back upstairs. By the time the officers arrived, he was long gone. But they had plenty of questions.

“Why didn't you just take the envelope of money?” the officer asked. “You are his wife, and that's your money, too.” The RNC officers had looked through the cupboards and understood the dire situation Jennifer faced.

“Mrs. Hart, you have to leave this situation. Pack your bags and some items for the children. We're taking you somewhere safe.”

They ended up at a transition house that was being renovated at the time. After a couple of days there, they were moved to a hotel. But it wasn't long before Nelson found out where they were staying and the phone calls began.

“Come back,” he pleaded. “I'll give you some of the money, you won't have to worry about groceries anymore. I promise.”

“No, Nelson, I have to think about Krista and Karen. You say there will be food, and things will be different, but they never are. I'm not coming back,” Jennifer cried into the phone.

But the phone calls persisted. The promises became more persuasive, and Jennifer was finding it harder to say no.

The small hotel room was cramped for the three of them, and Jennifer wanted to go back to her apartment. Her life.

After several more phone calls, Jennifer agreed to go home.

Back at the apartment, she saw that he had stayed true to his word. There were groceries in the cupboards and a new box of diapers for the girls. But there was little to be excited about. In her heart, she knew this wouldn't last for long.

But for now Jennifer felt good to have the girls in their own cribs, and to get the laundry done and packed away in their own little room. The girls seemed more at ease, too.

Nelson was just sitting down to watch television when there was a knock at the door. There stood a man, probably in his mid-forties, carrying a briefcase. Also, a woman who looked no more than twenty-five, and she had a stack of envelopes clutched in her arm.

“Are you Nelson Hart?”

“Yeah, that's me.”

“We're with Child, Youth and Family Services. We need to check on the girls to make sure everything is okay. Do you mind if we come in?”

Nelson didn't say a word as the two social workers entered the apartment. He sat at the kitchen table and they followed him. Jennifer sat at the table as well. She was interested in any news that might mean a more stable home for Karen and Krista.

“Jennifer, how are you feeling now that you're back home?” the woman asked. “The staff at the transition house were surprised to learn that you wanted to leave so quickly. We just want to make sure that you are not going back to the same situation. You need food for those girls, and for yourself.”

“Them girls will have food, don't you worry about it,” said Nelson.

The social worker again addressed Jennifer. “Can we have a look at the food you have here in the house at the moment?”

“Go ahead,” said Nelson, “I bought food yesterday before they came home.”

The man got up and checked through the cupboards and the fridge. All the while, he was making notes on a clipboard.

“Jennifer, can you tell us, do you have a supply of diapers on hand for the girls right now?” he asked.

Again Nelson replied for her. “She's got plenty of diapers. There's a brand new box in the room.”

The social worker stopped and looked directly at Nelson. “I'm going to need more information. Jennifer, can we speak to you in private?”

Nelson sighed and stomped into the living room to express his dissatisfaction with that particular scenario.

Jennifer went into the bedroom with the two social workers.

“Jennifer, we are worried that you are going to end up back in the same situation again. We can't let that happen for the sake of Krista and Karen. We are going to be visiting you from now on. We'll be just checking in to see how things are going. But if we find you in a situation like you were in last week, you will have to leave Nelson. As social workers, we can't let the girls be put at risk. Do you understand?”

“I do,” said Jennifer. “You guys are more than welcome to drop by any time. To be honest, it gives me comfort that you are interested in helping me take care of the girls. Whatever I can do to make sure they have a good life, I will do.”

“That's good,” said the woman, whose name was Deanna. “We're going to leave now, but here's my card. Call me any time, and I'll be here to help as best I can.”

Once they had left the apartment, Nelson sat up on the couch.

“You know now that we're being investigated. They'll be watching me all the time,” he said. Then he stood up and kicked the coffee table over on its side.

“If you don't stop, I'll be calling the police again,” said Jennifer. “What's wrong with having them here? At least they're looking out for Krista and Karen.”

But before she could finish her thought, Nelson was out the door.

29

Jennifer watched the familiar sights go by as she and Nelson made their way to Horwood. It was Nelson's hometown, and his brother Mervin still lived there. But Mervin was on the mainland for the time being, and Nelson had just gotten his moose licence. It was the perfect reason for a quick vacation out of the city. And Jennifer was anxious to slow down the pace a little.

Mervin's house was quite a change from their apartment in St. John's, and the girls were loving the extra space and freedom.

As usual, Krista was leading Karen around the house and showing her all the new things they would explore. Karen followed her faithfully and listened carefully to her slightly older sister. In fact, most days she listened to Krista more than her mom. It was good to be in the company of family again.

Nelson's father, who also lived in Horwood, was helping Nelson find his moose. Until one morning, their trip was cut short and the men came home early.

Jennifer didn't know what started the argument between Nelson and his dad, but it quickly grew heated. They were in the basement, and the twins were taking in every word. Back and forth the men argued. When Jennifer tried to stop Nelson's verbal assault on his father, she saw a side of him she didn't know existed.

With Karen and Krista watching, he pushed her chest so hard she fell back onto the floor. The girls started screaming.

His father was quick to react.

“Let that be the last time I ever see you do that to her,” his father hissed from between his teeth.

“Come on. We're going back to St. John's right now,” said Nelson.

30

By Christmas, things had settled down. Nelson was regularly buying enough food to get by, and there were usually enough diapers in the house. The groceries might not have the best-quality food Jennifer could have asked for, but it was a good Christmas. The girls had plenty of gifts Christmas morning.

When the stores reopened, just after Boxing Day, Nelson suggested they go out for the evening and pick up some extra things they needed for the house. They arranged for the girls to stay downstairs with neighbours, and Jennifer was looking forward to getting out of the apartment.

“Everything you need should be right in this bag,” Jennifer told the sitter. “We won't be long.”

“The girls will be fine, take your time,” she assured Jennifer.

So Jennifer and Nelson headed out to the mall. They took a taxi, and by the time they got there, Nelson was a lot less eager to spend any money, so Jennifer settled for a night of mostly browsing around the mall.

On the taxi ride home, Nelson's mood grew darker. Jennifer wasn't sure what was bothering him, but she certainly didn't feel like asking. For a moment she thought he might be having a seizure and was trying to hide it, like he sometimes did.

But Jennifer was shocked at what happened when the taxi pulled up in front of the apartment building.

Nelson jumped out of the cab and ran into the apartment. Before she realized what was going on, the driver had locked the doors, and she was trapped inside the car. It happened so quickly she thought she was dreaming. What kind of stunt was he pulling this time?

“That's over $15 your husband owes me. You're not getting out of here until he pays up,” said the driver.

Jennifer was stunned. She sat in the car, close to tears. She couldn't believe Nelson wasn't coming back for her. Not even to see if she was okay.

After about ten minutes, the driver spoke up.

“You can go in, but if he's not out here in ten minutes, I'm calling the police.”

First Jennifer walked into her neighbour's apartment and gathered up Karen and Krista. Feeling numb and confused, she walked up the stairs, and Nelson let her into the apartment.

“Why are the lights off?” she asked.

“I don't want the taxi driver to see us,” he said. “I'm not paying him.”

“Well, he told me that if you don't go down there and pay him, he's calling the cops,” said Jennifer.

“Well, he's about to learn that there's no way I'll be paying that $15. I need that money more than he does.”

While Jennifer nervously got the girls ready for bed, Nelson was continuously checking the window. Finally, the police arrived with a loud knock on the door.