“For the umpteenth time it was not my imagination, Fredrick was standing behind this tree,” Nelly said pointing at the spot she saw Frederick. The police scanned the area thoroughly but did not evidence of anyone’s presence. They led everyone back into the house, asked that all doors be locked. In case anything strange is noticed they should give the police a call immediately. Nelly stayed awake all through the night too scared to close her eyes; she got so tired that her eyes gave in to sleep, but she forced it back open, her sleepless nights continued and by the third day she was a nervous wreck.
Nelly and Amy hardly spoke to each other since they argued.Trying so desperately to get talking with Amy again without being the one to make the move, Nelly went on a hunger strike and by the 2nd day she succeeded and Amy broke the ice.
“The way you are going Nelly one would think you have given up”.Nelly said nothing and continued mopping at the ceiling. Nando busied himself reading a sports magazine while Hazel assembled her princess castle -one of the many indoor toys her parents bought for her to keep her busy so she wouldn't miss going out to play much.
“Nelly I am talking to you. If I permitted everything you did, ignoring your wrongs would it make me a good sister?” Nelly said nothing but shifted her gaze to Amy “at least I have your attention” Amy continued “I can’t watch you go on this way” Nelly cut in “you did not have my back, you supported Frederick for trying to kill me”
“you know you are acting like a spoilt brat Nelly, it’s not about taking sides, that I did not agree with your decision doesn’t mean you made the wrong decision it is my opinion, you have a right to your decision and action. The deed has been done let’s move on I need you to survive, I love you”.Nelly burst into tears reached for Amy’s hand squeezed it then smiled at her sister –Amy’s reassuring love released some tension that had built up in her. All three women slept in the same room that night, Nelly slept peacefully with her sister and Hazel while Nando slept in the guest room.
The coming weeks brought a rapid occurrence of events- Deen carter who had been charged with attempted murder was on trial, Nelly was present at the court proceedings, evidence after the other where presented convicting Deen of the crime, he maintained that Nelly hired him to kill Frederick, the conversation between him and Frederick was aired and the boys who had driven by that night witnessed against Deen- it was obvious he lied , so he had to confess all –Nelly smiled as the jury found him guilty and his sentence read to everyone hearing “ .......you are hereby jailed for life......”.the judge hit the gavel and the case was closed. Nelly smiled and left the courthouse with joy. However, her joy was short lived because as she lay on her bed to sleep with Frederick still on the loose. her fear came alive again.
“I can’t wait for all this to end, I want my life back. I am tired of living in fear what could possibly be the end of this - me or Frederick dead or him in jail. She walked to the back of the house, screaming at top of her voice “Frederick come and get me” continuing her screaming “if you can hear me now come and get me” Amy grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the house “you have gone crazy, what would you do if truly he comes after you, try not to get yourself killed you are talking to a raging lunatic who will stop at nothing till he gets, employ wisdom” Amy said to calm her down.
Two months passed since Nelly saw Frederick and every night since then she would look out of the same window expecting to see Frederick there but she never did. Desperate for something to happen Nelly became more daring she would leave the house alone, a stroll around the neighborhood, window shopping at the mall her eyes opened to what she had been missing being locked up in the house in fear, she talked less about Frederick and moments spent mopping into the air in deep thoughts reduced; she shared more fun evenings with the family telling stories, sharing jokes, helping hazel with homework and even cooking for the household. As she settled she realised all the rich friends she spent some evenings with wining and dining had abandoned her. Right now she had only Amy, Nando and Hazel, she and Amy had been orphaned years ago. Nelly reached out to her two best friends from the university she had not been very close to since she got married to Frederick – her busy life as Frederick’s wife, organising and attending various functions and events exposed her to a new circle of friends. Nadine and frank had gotten married to each other and were well aware of what was happening embraced their friendship like there had been no break.
Nelly decided while she was going out more often she would need more clothes and money. She and hazel were invited by Nadine, frank and their son to a children’s movie premiere. Hazel had been so excited before she left for school about their outing Nelly could not even think of disappointing her. Nelly called for a taxi to the house she and Frederick used to live in, she asked for the driver to wait a bit. Still afraid of being in the house alone she looked round, everything was pretty much the same way she left it the last time. She hurriedly put some clothes in a bag, opened the drawer she kept her jewellery- gold, diamonds, ruby and pearls arranged in their sets dazzled back at her; she had even forgotten she had some of these things. She picked up the 24k gold set Frederick bought her during their first year wedding anniversary trip to Dubai.
Frederick tailed her to the house; he sneaked into the house without notice. Making his way upstairs, he heard footsteps from the front of the house, he hide behind the main door because it was wide open. “Ma’am it is more than fifteen minutes I have been waiting and we start to charge waiting time after fifteen minutes” the taxi man speaking loudly so Nelly could hear. Immediately Nelly rushed down “I am done” she pulled the front door shut and locked with the key not even realizing Frederick was there. A few seconds later, Frederick stood by the window and watched the taxi drive away.
The evening was going wonderfully well. Hazel had been so excited sitting in the same movie theatre with some of her favourite actors, her eyes shone bright like a crystal throughout, Hazel’s joy was viral and it caught Nelly, they were both so excited- Nelly could see hazel was joyful just being out with other kids after too many days muddled up in the house with adults. After the movie the duo decided they didn’t want the evening to end yet, they sent Nadine, frank and their son off, hopped into a taxi and headed to a travelling funfair a few miles from the cinema. It was half seven in the evening, still bright-longer days shorter nights -the duo were going to make the most of their outing, “Hazel look what I have got” Nelly flashed the content of her bag at hazel” surprised hazel opened her eyes and mouth wide then she yelled in excitement “woohoo” jumping up and down. Nelly answered her saying “we can spend as much as we want I still got some in the house. “That’s our little secret” and then winked at hazel. They arrived at the funfair hazel ran wild in utter bliss; Nelly could hardly keep up with her. Hazel talked and moved as though she was on fast forward, she became more hyper as she topped up on candy. Two hours passed, exhausted and ready to call it a night Nelly brought out her phone to ring up a taxi, she saw over thirty missed called from Amy and Nando. They were due back home hours ago, she started to wonder why she didn’t call to inform them that they would be later than expected; perhaps she didn’t want to get discouraged. She dialled Amy back, just then someone grabbed the phone from her hand, she felt a sharp object poking her back and Frederick’s mouth on her ear “if you make any noise the kid will be punished for it” she looked sideways and saw Frederick had his grip on hazel “just turn back give me a hug like we are old friends and everything is ok” Nelly turned back shaken, she couldn’t bring herself to hug Frederick, hazel didn’t look scared she was unaware of what was going on. Frederick repeated “hug me or she pays for it”. “Hello, hello” Amy’s voice came through the phone; Frederick cut her off placed the phone in his breast pocket. The environment was rowdy people moving in groups interested in their own fun and not worried about other there. She shut her eyes tightly and hugged Frederick, it felt horrible. He smiled and patted her back. “You two must smile until we leave this place” Frederick said as he led them out of the park, they had gone unnoticed all evening but they looked weird with the plastered smiles on their faces they were made fun of by people they passed by, one of the louder voices screamed “this family must be stoned, their kid too” and the others burst out laughing at them.
Nelly had been waiting for the confrontation with Frederick for a long time unfortunately it came when she least expected it, especially with hazel being there. “Frederick please let hazel go” Nelly said as she saw hazel try to wiggle her way out of Frederick’s firm grip but he didn’t “uncle Frederick” Hazel said as she usually called him my hand hurts but he didn’t answer Hazel, she wiggled more trying to free herself he still didn’t let her go instead he used both his hands to hold her still, then he gave her a smack on the face “if you do that again I will give you more smacks” she sobbed and nodded.
Nadine and frank and a host of others had joined Amy and Nando in the search for the missing duo. Information had been passed on the police radio describing what they both looked like, what clothes they had on and the possibility that they could be in the company of a man describing Frederick.
The police went to the mall where the cinema is located, surveillance showed both of them get into a taxi, the taxi driver was contacted and he said he dropped them off at the funfair. The securities at the team park were alerted - Amy, Nando and the others converged at the theme park and then started to sweep through. By then Frederick had gotten them far from the fair to a deserted footpath, he let Nelly walk free but he still held hazel firmly so Nelly followed him like she was hypnotised. “You are free why don’t you go, I got hazel here in your place,” Frederick said and laughed wickedly. Nelly went on her knees grabbing Frederick by the leg “No, no, take me, it is me you want, I am the one who hurt you not her” Frederick kicked his leg free and continued walking. “Frederick I did not cheat on you, I used a sperm donor from the cryobank” “Frederick stopped and looked back at Nelly angry. His eyes had turned red with anger she had just pressed his wrong button “you lie, I know you know I couldn’t have been responsible for your pregnancy” his eyes were wide open he was in a rage. She walked towards him pleading, she dipped her hand into her bag hanging from her shoulder, she had a pepper spray she carried everywhere. She stood right in front of him and sprayed the pepper in his eyes. He released hazel using both his hands to rub his eyes. Nelly push hazel “run, run fast and run the way we came, get help for me”. Frederick stumbled after hazel and fell down because he couldn’t see.
With hazel gone Nelly mustered every ounce of courage, she could engage in a daunting confrontation with a man twice her size.She had the advantage, he could not see. “you are every bit a liar and a cheat that you accuse me of being. You never told me about the vasectomy, you knew how badly I wanted a baby and you pretended to want one too, I didn’t cheat on you Frederick I would never have” she was standing in front of him. He tried to open his eyes but she sprayed the pepper in his eyes again he groaned in pain swinging his hand at her, he hit her on her head and she fell to the ground. He moved forward searching for her then he stepped on her, he bent down grabbed her legs stood upright and tried to kick her but she landed a hard kick on his groin first he fell on his knees howling in pain and holding his crotch .She got up, picked up metal laying close by and hit him hard on his back. He fell flat on his tummy, she hit him again and was going to the his head, at that moment a policeman arrived with hazel pointing a gun at her “drop your weapon and get on your knee” he said, she dropped the metal and went on her knees he rushed to her and handcuffed her. Frederick still lay on the ground helpless. Eventually, more policemen arrived in police cars and they were both taken away in handcuffs.
A year later, with Frederick locked in jail for life without parole, Nelly had done well picking up the pieces of her life. She had taken over all that belonged to Frederick, sold the house they both lived in and bought one close to her sister’s. She found love in the policeman that rescued her the night she beat Frederick up, they were preparing to tie the knot and expecting their first child.
Nelly and Amy hardly spoke to each other since they argued.Trying so desperately to get talking with Amy again without being the one to make the move, Nelly went on a hunger strike and by the 2nd day she succeeded and Amy broke the ice.
“The way you are going Nelly one would think you have given up”.Nelly said nothing and continued mopping at the ceiling. Nando busied himself reading a sports magazine while Hazel assembled her princess castle -one of the many indoor toys her parents bought for her to keep her busy so she wouldn't miss going out to play much.
“Nelly I am talking to you. If I permitted everything you did, ignoring your wrongs would it make me a good sister?” Nelly said nothing but shifted her gaze to Amy “at least I have your attention” Amy continued “I can’t watch you go on this way” Nelly cut in “you did not have my back, you supported Frederick for trying to kill me”
“you know you are acting like a spoilt brat Nelly, it’s not about taking sides, that I did not agree with your decision doesn’t mean you made the wrong decision it is my opinion, you have a right to your decision and action. The deed has been done let’s move on I need you to survive, I love you”.Nelly burst into tears reached for Amy’s hand squeezed it then smiled at her sister –Amy’s reassuring love released some tension that had built up in her. All three women slept in the same room that night, Nelly slept peacefully with her sister and Hazel while Nando slept in the guest room.
The coming weeks brought a rapid occurrence of events- Deen carter who had been charged with attempted murder was on trial, Nelly was present at the court proceedings, evidence after the other where presented convicting Deen of the crime, he maintained that Nelly hired him to kill Frederick, the conversation between him and Frederick was aired and the boys who had driven by that night witnessed against Deen- it was obvious he lied , so he had to confess all –Nelly smiled as the jury found him guilty and his sentence read to everyone hearing “ .......you are hereby jailed for life......”.the judge hit the gavel and the case was closed. Nelly smiled and left the courthouse with joy. However, her joy was short lived because as she lay on her bed to sleep with Frederick still on the loose. her fear came alive again.
“I can’t wait for all this to end, I want my life back. I am tired of living in fear what could possibly be the end of this - me or Frederick dead or him in jail. She walked to the back of the house, screaming at top of her voice “Frederick come and get me” continuing her screaming “if you can hear me now come and get me” Amy grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the house “you have gone crazy, what would you do if truly he comes after you, try not to get yourself killed you are talking to a raging lunatic who will stop at nothing till he gets, employ wisdom” Amy said to calm her down.
Two months passed since Nelly saw Frederick and every night since then she would look out of the same window expecting to see Frederick there but she never did. Desperate for something to happen Nelly became more daring she would leave the house alone, a stroll around the neighborhood, window shopping at the mall her eyes opened to what she had been missing being locked up in the house in fear, she talked less about Frederick and moments spent mopping into the air in deep thoughts reduced; she shared more fun evenings with the family telling stories, sharing jokes, helping hazel with homework and even cooking for the household. As she settled she realised all the rich friends she spent some evenings with wining and dining had abandoned her. Right now she had only Amy, Nando and Hazel, she and Amy had been orphaned years ago. Nelly reached out to her two best friends from the university she had not been very close to since she got married to Frederick – her busy life as Frederick’s wife, organising and attending various functions and events exposed her to a new circle of friends. Nadine and frank had gotten married to each other and were well aware of what was happening embraced their friendship like there had been no break.
Nelly decided while she was going out more often she would need more clothes and money. She and hazel were invited by Nadine, frank and their son to a children’s movie premiere. Hazel had been so excited before she left for school about their outing Nelly could not even think of disappointing her. Nelly called for a taxi to the house she and Frederick used to live in, she asked for the driver to wait a bit. Still afraid of being in the house alone she looked round, everything was pretty much the same way she left it the last time. She hurriedly put some clothes in a bag, opened the drawer she kept her jewellery- gold, diamonds, ruby and pearls arranged in their sets dazzled back at her; she had even forgotten she had some of these things. She picked up the 24k gold set Frederick bought her during their first year wedding anniversary trip to Dubai.
Frederick tailed her to the house; he sneaked into the house without notice. Making his way upstairs, he heard footsteps from the front of the house, he hide behind the main door because it was wide open. “Ma’am it is more than fifteen minutes I have been waiting and we start to charge waiting time after fifteen minutes” the taxi man speaking loudly so Nelly could hear. Immediately Nelly rushed down “I am done” she pulled the front door shut and locked with the key not even realizing Frederick was there. A few seconds later, Frederick stood by the window and watched the taxi drive away.
The evening was going wonderfully well. Hazel had been so excited sitting in the same movie theatre with some of her favourite actors, her eyes shone bright like a crystal throughout, Hazel’s joy was viral and it caught Nelly, they were both so excited- Nelly could see hazel was joyful just being out with other kids after too many days muddled up in the house with adults. After the movie the duo decided they didn’t want the evening to end yet, they sent Nadine, frank and their son off, hopped into a taxi and headed to a travelling funfair a few miles from the cinema. It was half seven in the evening, still bright-longer days shorter nights -the duo were going to make the most of their outing, “Hazel look what I have got” Nelly flashed the content of her bag at hazel” surprised hazel opened her eyes and mouth wide then she yelled in excitement “woohoo” jumping up and down. Nelly answered her saying “we can spend as much as we want I still got some in the house. “That’s our little secret” and then winked at hazel. They arrived at the funfair hazel ran wild in utter bliss; Nelly could hardly keep up with her. Hazel talked and moved as though she was on fast forward, she became more hyper as she topped up on candy. Two hours passed, exhausted and ready to call it a night Nelly brought out her phone to ring up a taxi, she saw over thirty missed called from Amy and Nando. They were due back home hours ago, she started to wonder why she didn’t call to inform them that they would be later than expected; perhaps she didn’t want to get discouraged. She dialled Amy back, just then someone grabbed the phone from her hand, she felt a sharp object poking her back and Frederick’s mouth on her ear “if you make any noise the kid will be punished for it” she looked sideways and saw Frederick had his grip on hazel “just turn back give me a hug like we are old friends and everything is ok” Nelly turned back shaken, she couldn’t bring herself to hug Frederick, hazel didn’t look scared she was unaware of what was going on. Frederick repeated “hug me or she pays for it”. “Hello, hello” Amy’s voice came through the phone; Frederick cut her off placed the phone in his breast pocket. The environment was rowdy people moving in groups interested in their own fun and not worried about other there. She shut her eyes tightly and hugged Frederick, it felt horrible. He smiled and patted her back. “You two must smile until we leave this place” Frederick said as he led them out of the park, they had gone unnoticed all evening but they looked weird with the plastered smiles on their faces they were made fun of by people they passed by, one of the louder voices screamed “this family must be stoned, their kid too” and the others burst out laughing at them.
Nelly had been waiting for the confrontation with Frederick for a long time unfortunately it came when she least expected it, especially with hazel being there. “Frederick please let hazel go” Nelly said as she saw hazel try to wiggle her way out of Frederick’s firm grip but he didn’t “uncle Frederick” Hazel said as she usually called him my hand hurts but he didn’t answer Hazel, she wiggled more trying to free herself he still didn’t let her go instead he used both his hands to hold her still, then he gave her a smack on the face “if you do that again I will give you more smacks” she sobbed and nodded.
Nadine and frank and a host of others had joined Amy and Nando in the search for the missing duo. Information had been passed on the police radio describing what they both looked like, what clothes they had on and the possibility that they could be in the company of a man describing Frederick.
The police went to the mall where the cinema is located, surveillance showed both of them get into a taxi, the taxi driver was contacted and he said he dropped them off at the funfair. The securities at the team park were alerted - Amy, Nando and the others converged at the theme park and then started to sweep through. By then Frederick had gotten them far from the fair to a deserted footpath, he let Nelly walk free but he still held hazel firmly so Nelly followed him like she was hypnotised. “You are free why don’t you go, I got hazel here in your place,” Frederick said and laughed wickedly. Nelly went on her knees grabbing Frederick by the leg “No, no, take me, it is me you want, I am the one who hurt you not her” Frederick kicked his leg free and continued walking. “Frederick I did not cheat on you, I used a sperm donor from the cryobank” “Frederick stopped and looked back at Nelly angry. His eyes had turned red with anger she had just pressed his wrong button “you lie, I know you know I couldn’t have been responsible for your pregnancy” his eyes were wide open he was in a rage. She walked towards him pleading, she dipped her hand into her bag hanging from her shoulder, she had a pepper spray she carried everywhere. She stood right in front of him and sprayed the pepper in his eyes. He released hazel using both his hands to rub his eyes. Nelly push hazel “run, run fast and run the way we came, get help for me”. Frederick stumbled after hazel and fell down because he couldn’t see.
With hazel gone Nelly mustered every ounce of courage, she could engage in a daunting confrontation with a man twice her size.She had the advantage, he could not see. “you are every bit a liar and a cheat that you accuse me of being. You never told me about the vasectomy, you knew how badly I wanted a baby and you pretended to want one too, I didn’t cheat on you Frederick I would never have” she was standing in front of him. He tried to open his eyes but she sprayed the pepper in his eyes again he groaned in pain swinging his hand at her, he hit her on her head and she fell to the ground. He moved forward searching for her then he stepped on her, he bent down grabbed her legs stood upright and tried to kick her but she landed a hard kick on his groin first he fell on his knees howling in pain and holding his crotch .She got up, picked up metal laying close by and hit him hard on his back. He fell flat on his tummy, she hit him again and was going to the his head, at that moment a policeman arrived with hazel pointing a gun at her “drop your weapon and get on your knee” he said, she dropped the metal and went on her knees he rushed to her and handcuffed her. Frederick still lay on the ground helpless. Eventually, more policemen arrived in police cars and they were both taken away in handcuffs.
A year later, with Frederick locked in jail for life without parole, Nelly had done well picking up the pieces of her life. She had taken over all that belonged to Frederick, sold the house they both lived in and bought one close to her sister’s. She found love in the policeman that rescued her the night she beat Frederick up, they were preparing to tie the knot and expecting their first child.
No comments:
Post a Comment