Mr. Big Read Free Page B

demeanour.
    â€œThat’s the only way I knew how to let you know I liked you,” he mumbled.
    After a considerable silence, he spoke once more. This time it was to ask her if she wanted to go out on a date.
    Jennifer wasn’t sure what to think. Should she go out with this guy? He was odd. But he was nice. And there was something about him that made her feel like he could take care of her, protect her.
    â€œSure,” she said.
    They agreed that he would come by her apartment at seven. Shortly after their conversation, he left Nicole’s apartment, and Jennifer went to her building to get ready.
    She wondered what he had in mind for a date as she got ready.
    She started with a long shower. Thoroughly washing her hair. As always, getting ready for Jennifer would take some time. But by six thirty she was ready and impeccably groomed.
    Of course, neither Jennifer nor Nelson owned a car, so they were limited in their options as to how they would spend the evening. But they really weren’t concerned with what they would do.
    They left the apartment and just started to walk.
    They walked through downtown, talking about their backgrounds. Nelson explained how he had grown up on the northeast coast as well. He was raised in the small town of Horwood and had moved to Gander.
    He told her more about his seizures.
    Some were minor, but the grand mal seizures could leave him feeling exhausted for days. The seizures were serious enough that he had lost his driver’s licence.
    After an hour or so, he took Jennifer’s hand, and they instantly became a pair. It certainly wasn’t a typical date. There were no flowers and he didn’t buy her dinner. They strolled from store to store, eyeing luxuries that neither of them could afford. And at the moment, neither of them cared for anything but each other’s company.
    That night they went back to their respective apartments, knowing there would be a second date.
    It was a couple of days before Jennifer could get an evening off work. But she was excited about the prospects of another evening with Nelson.
    â€œYou’re seeing him again tonight?” Susan asked.
    When date night finally arrived, Jennifer was really looking forward to being with him again. There was something in his personality that continued to draw her toward him, though she could still not quite pinpoint what it was.
    â€œYup. I’m really excited about seeing him again, too. He’s just a good fellow,” said Jennifer.
    Finally, Nelson knocked on the door, and he and Jennifer headed out for the evening.
    â€œSee you later,” Jennifer said to her sister.
    From that day forward, the two were rarely seen apart.
    7
    It was October.
    Jennifer followed Nelson up the long flight of stairs to his apartment. It was her first time visiting his place, but in her heart she already knew that at some point she would probably be calling this apartment home.
    Depending on how things went today, of course.
    Jennifer was anxious to see how he lived. She had firm values when it came to cleanliness. Not just over her personal hygiene, but she also believed a person’s living environment should be equally pristine.
    â€œCome on in,” said Nelson.
    Jennifer slowly proceeded through the doorway, fearing the worst. Instead, she found an apartment that was absolutely spotless. Nothing was out of place, the floors were clean, the countertops were tidy, and the furniture was modest but in good condition.
    â€œI’m impressed,” said Jennifer. “You like to keep things clean.”
    â€œWell,” he said. “It’s not entirely my doing. I have a personal care worker who comes by a few times a week. Government pays me $300 a month to hire her, because of the seizures. When she doesn’t come, Mom usually helps out.
    â€œYou should move in here,” suggested Nelson.
    It wasn’t a request she had expected to hear so soon. Jennifer was taken aback, but at