FOUR WEEKS LATER
Skye stood at the top of the stairs gazing over the balcony, admiring the extensive changes she’d made to her old home. She especially admired the boldness of the now red and white living room. The red accent wall along the hallway was downright orgasmic. She sipped her wine and thought about why she’d chosen the daring color. It wasn’t necessarily her favorite, but what made it sweet was the fact Sandino loathed red. In the past, he’d never let her wear it and he detested red lipstick. He would always say red was only for bitches and hoes, and then he would ask Skye which one she represented. She frowned at the memory. In her opinion, red represented power and strength, both of which she now possessed. And with her new found strength, it was time to show Sandino Washington who is in charge.
“He’ll be pissed off, but what is he gonna do, run after me?” Skye said, with a smirk.
She was finally starting to feel at home after the transition back to Miami. With so many mixed emotions, bad memories, and negative energy the first night proved to be very difficult for her. After waking up in a cold sweat from constant nightmares about Sandino trying to kill her, Skye sat up for hours thinking that she had to make some changes to the house in order for her to move forward.
The next day she had a huge garage sale, getting rid of every piece of furniture including some of Sandino’s prized possessions. From the garage sale money and the money she took out of Sandino’s account, Skye went to work by hiring a professional decorator to come in and redo everything. Now, it looked and felt like she had a voice, which was something she’d never experienced.
Once Skye decided to move back to Miami, she called Sandino’s lawyer and told her she’d decided to be his Power of Attorney. Within twenty-four hours, the lawyer had sent all the necessary paperwork via Fedex, and before Skye knew it, she was officially in charge of all his money. Skye smiled every time she thought about how good it felt to not have any more allowances…not to have anyone tell her what to spend and how much. It was the happiest she’d been in a while.
Spending money and buying things to transform the house gave her a rush, so since she couldn’t fit any of the expensive clothes that were still hanging up in her huge walk in closet, Skye and the kids went on a much needed shopping spree. Besides, all the cheap clothes she’d brought from Georgia just didn’t seem to go along with the lifestyle she was now reclaiming.
Her mind suddenly drifted to her kids. Jordan who was at school, enjoyed being back and had already talked to his former coach about getting back on his old football team again since the season had just started. Payton’s injury seemed to be healing without any complications and she was scheduled to go see her new orthopedic physician the following week. She was even back to her old self again, smiling and trying to walk so she could get into everything.
Kareem on the other hand had stuck to his word and stayed in Georgia. When Skye and Kareem had a long overdue conversation before she left, he finally broke down crying letting out all the pain he had bottled up inside from what he’d experienced over the years from all Sandino’s abuse. After she continuously tried to get him to come with them and he wouldn’t budge, Skye finally decided to respect his wishes. However, that still didn’t hide the fact that it was hard to leave her son.
The whole Kareem and Le Le situation still bothers me, but the more I complain about it I’m probably pushing him closer to that bitch, she thought. But I’m not giving up. I’ll wait for a week or two and try to convince him again.
Hearing the door bell ringing suddenly broke her daze. Skye looked at her watch and realized it was already 11:00 a.m. and time for Sandino’s live in nurse to come and get things ready for his arrival later that day.
After being sleep deprived and walking around like a zombie all morning, she wasn’t at all ready to meet Sandino’s nurse. She sighed and put down her glass of wine and headed toward the foyer. When Skye looked out of the huge glass door, she was surprised to see a nice looking man standing outside with a suitcase. She cracked the door looking out.
“May I help you?” she asked, though the door.
“Hello ma’am, my name is Quinn Jacobs. I’m from HealthSouth Rehabilitation. I’ll be Mr. Washington’s nurse,” he replied showing a small gap between his two front teeth.
She stepped back and opened the door. “Oh, yes I was expecting you. Please come in, I’m Skye,” she said, introducing herself.
Quinn walked inside wearing a pair of navy scrubs with a body of steel. “Nice to meet you,” he replied, rolling the black luggage behind him.
Damn, he’s fine. He looks just like just Michael Jai White from the movie ‘Why Did I Get Married’ and he’s built like him, too. This is a plus, especially since I cut Cruze off and haven’t had sex in a while. It’s going to be real good having this eye candy around. I can see his big muscular arms picking Sandino up out that wheelchair now, she thought.
“Let me show you around, then I’ll show you which room you’ll be staying in,” Skye said, walking in front of him.
“You have a really nice home, Mrs. Washington,” he said, following her.
Skye could feel him staring at her ass as she walked down the hall.
“Thanks, but please…call me Skye. I no longer go by Mrs. Washington.”
“Oh, I didn’t know. I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not a problem. I’m happy to correct people actually.”
Skye showed him all of the work that the contractors had done to make the house handicap accessible for Sandino. This included building a wheelchair ramp outside, widening all the doorways and transforming the downstairs bathroom into a roll-in shower.
“Now, here’s your room right here,” Skye said, pushing the door open. “Everything in here is new. New bed, new linen, and a new fifty-inch LED T.V. I tried to make it as comfortable for you as possible, so let me know if you need anything.”
Quinn smiled. “Thanks. Once I get unpacked I need to check out you and Mr. Washington’s bedroom to make sure everything is up to code.”
“Well, his room is right across the hall so you don’t have to go far.” Skye pointed. “My room is upstairs.”
Quinn looked somewhat confused. “Oh…okay well that’s cool. After I check on that, I’ll come and talk to you about my schedule and days off. We also need to discuss our rotation in regards to taking Mr. Washington to physical therapy.”
“Your days off? And who’s taking that man to physical therapy? I’m not doing that,” Skye said, walking out of the room to go pour herself another glass of wine.
Again Quinn looked at her strange wondering why Skye stayed in another room and why she didn’t want to take care of her own husband. Let me mind my own business, he thought. My job is not to pry.
Not long after, Quinn joined Skye outside on the patio and began to discuss Sandino’s care. It was so many different things that came along with Sandino’s rehabilitation, Skye was glad Quinn was well trained and handled all of it because she hadn’t planned on lifting one finger. She was living up to her part of the agreement by being in the same house with him and making sure he was cared for. But that was as far as she’d planned to go. Skye even wished she could block off part of the house so she didn’t have to see him.
Later that afternoon, Skye tried to lay down and take a nap, but still couldn’t sleep. The nervousness of Sandino coming had her on the edge. So, instead of resting she opened another bottle of wine and continued to sip.
Suddenly chill bumps ran up and down her arm as Skye heard the beeping noise of a truck backing up. She looked out the upstairs window and saw a white van backing into the driveway that read, HealthSouth Rehabilitation. When her leg started shaking Skye wondered if she was going to be able to hold her composure when she saw Sandino for the first time in months.
“I hate that demon. He destroyed my life and I plan to return the favor,” she said to herself, then looked in the mirror.
The nude colored Herve Leger dress she wore fit her now curvy size eight body like a glove. She’d been working out every day in the gym downstairs trying to relieve her stress and drop some pounds all at the same time. And it was working because she’d managed to drop most of the weight she’d gained while living in Georgia. Plus, she didn’t have much of an appetite now since she’d moved back to Miami. Skye knew she was way over dressed, but she wanted Sandino to see what he was missing out on and how much he’d fucked up a good thing.
Skye watched as Quinn went out and greeted the other nurses transporting Sandino. A huge ramp on the side of the van was lowered down and a few minutes later, she saw Sandino’s wheelchair being pushed off. Skye was shocked when she finally saw his thin frame and thick, full beard. He looked more like Teddy Pendergrass after his accident then Sandino Washington. It was actually scary.
As Quinn pushed the wheelchair off of the ramp and started wheeling him towards the house, Sandino looked up and noticed Skye standing in the window. While his eyes lit up like an excited child, hers were cold as ice. Sandino stared at her like he was hypnotized.
“When I get through with that muthafucka, his ass is gonna wish he really was dead,” Skye said.
Once Quinn pushed Sandino’s wheelchair into the foyer of the house, Skye stood at the top of the spiral staircase looking down with Payton in her arms. Her eyes widened a bit as she got a closer look at the frail man who no longer looked like the muscular Sandino Washington that she’d married years ago. To say he looked awful was an understatement when describing his appearance. In all her years married to Sandino she’d never seen him with any facial hair so the beard was beyond creepy.
After a closer view, he looked less like Teddy Pendergrass and more like a scrawny injured veteran returning home from the war. Or like a homeless man you see on the street. Watching him slouched over in the wheelchair dressed in an oversized army green sweat suit made her feel like she was looking at a complete stranger. Over the years of their marriage even during his abuse and drug use, one thing never changed. Skye could never deny the fact that she always found Sandino to be irresistible and sexy. But for the first time ever, that had definitely changed.
When she walked down the stairs, Sandino studied her up and down with his piercing eyes. She immediately began to think about all the promises he’d made to her that the abuse and cheating would stop, but each time it only got worse. Thinking about her constant pain, Skye actually hated Sandino for everything he’d done, and planned to show him just how much.
This shit is going to be harder to deal with than I thought. I wanna run over and kick his ass so bad just so he can see how it feels to be abused and belittled in front of someone. But now that the tables are turned, he will endure some of the pain I experienced. Payback is a bitch, she thought to herself.
As Skye walked down the stairs, a smile instantly formed on Sandino’s face and his eyes lit up like a bright sun. He seemed especially excited to see Payton. She’d always been daddy’s little girl and he was surprised at how big she’d gotten. Payton studied Sandino strangely with the beautiful green eyes she inherited from her mother. But then suddenly started crying as Sandino sat in his wheel chair staring at them like a mad man.
Skye purposely turned her back so he could no longer see his daughter. “Your scary looking ass hasn’t been in here five minutes and you’re already making us upset.”
Embarrassed, Sandino turned his head and looked in the direction of the boys’ rooms expecting to see his son’s next.
Once again Quinn felt awkward as he cleared his throat. “Are you ready to assist me with helping Sandino get settled into his room?”
Skye sucked her teeth. “No, I’m not! I thought that’s what you were here for. I mean… I made sure he had clean linen on the bed, what more to you want me to do? I’m telling you right out the gate, don’t be expecting me to spend a lot of time in that room,” she responded.
Quinn looked at her funny. “Yes ma’am. Thanks for the heads up. Well, I’ll be right back. I have to go help the medical supply company bring in some of the equipment needed in Mr. Washington’s room. He’s going to need a holster to help him in and out of the wheelchair along with a few other things,” he said before walking toward the front door.
Payton was still whining so Skye took her upstairs to lay down for a nap. Seconds later, she returned and walked towards Sandino in an intimidating manner and bent down towards his face.
“Just so you know, it’s a new day muthafucka. The old Skye is gone! Your controlling ass set it up so that I didn’t have any other choice but to come back here. But I just hope you’re ready to deal with the consequences,” she said, letting him know she meant business.
She then took her finger and plucked him several times on the forehead really hard in the same manner he did to her on several occasions in the past. “Do you hear me talking to you, cripple boy?”
Sandino’s eyes bulged and he moved his head trying to avoid her screams.
“Let me take you on a tour of the new house,” Skye said, getting behind his chair and pushing him into the living room.
She cringed when she saw that the hideous cut literally from ear to ear across his shaved head.
“Do you like the new red color in here? You’ve always said red represented hoes. I wonder if Asia had on red the night you fucked her and got her pregnant.”
A huge frown formed on Sandino’s face.
“Well, since you fucked one of my old friends, I don’t feel bad that I fucked one of yours.”
Once again Sandino produced an evil scowl.
“On with the tour,” Skye said, displaying a devilish grin while pushing him down the hall. The heels of her new Gucci sandals echoed loudly on the expensive marble floors as she made her way to the family room; a place that was formally Sandino’s shrine. It used to contain all of his trophy cases and pro-football memorabilia, but not anymore.
“As you can see, I got rid of all that football shit. I sold it actually. And remember that nice ring you got from the 2008 Superbowl when you played with the Giants for that short time? Well, I sold that shit, too. That damn ring was worth a lot,” she said with a chuckle.
As Sandino’s eyes scanned the room, he started getting really agitated and making grunting sounds.
“I know you aren’t about to cry, are you? I hope not because the Washington men are strong and not weak ass punks. Isn’t that what you used to say to our sons almost every day?” Skye asked, taunting him with his own words. “What…are you pissed off because I destroyed a part of your life? Well, now you know how it feels.”
Skye chuckled then slapped Sandino across his face twice.
“And shut up. That damn grunting noise is annoying!” she yelled in his face.
He stared at her. If looks could kill she would have been dead. Skye continued to push the wheelchair around the house showing him how she’d totally transformed every room.
When she approached Sandino’s favorite area that he called his man cave, which Skye felt it should’ve been called his get high cave, she turned on the light.
“Remember what was in this room? Your expensive glass top Telovation pool table. Well, I sold it for little or nothing along with all the old furniture in the house. Too many bad memories were associated with all that shit,” she told him.
At that moment, Sandino really started making all kinds of crazy grunting sounds. He was an excellent pool player and cherished the custom made $40,000 table. Sandino continued to look at her before closing his eyes as she continued pushing him down the hall.
“Now, this is my all time favorite room, it’s called the all about Skye room.”
She turned the knob and opened the door to what used to be Sandino’s office and pushed him inside. It now had a custom designed mahogany desk with a top of the line Apple computer.
“This is now my office. I’m going back to school and finish getting my degree in Fashion Merchandising. I put my education and career on hold to be a supportive wife, but now I’m getting ready to do what I need to do for me.” She got in his face again and tapped her chest. “For me! I’m fulfilling all my dreams that you felt weren’t important, like my new shoe line that’ll be launched at your expense of course.”
Once Skye turned his chair around and turned off the light, Sandino didn’t make any more sounds, he just looked straight ahead as if he was in a daze.
“Well, the tour is over. I hope you like all the modifications to the house. But then again I don’t give a fuck whether you do or not. Oh yeah I almost forgot, since you can’t drive anymore its no need for you to have five cars. I’m planning on selling all your cars. But then again, maybe I’ll keep one of them and let your cute ass nurse use it to drive you back and forth to physical therapy,” Skye said, pushing Sandino back into the foyer just as Quinn finished loading all the equipment inside his room. She reached over and whispered one last thing in Sandino’s ear. “Oh yeah, thanks for the brand new car. I have to go sign the paperwork and pick it up later,” she informed him.
Quinn walked up and he wiped the sweat off his forehead. Skye admired his gorgeous body, but quickly brushed it off. She wasn’t interesting in getting involved with another man right now, but she had to admit, there was nothing wrong with looking.
When Quinn noticed that Sandino’s demeanor had completely changed he became concerned. Sandino’s face was so tensed Quinn could see the veins protruding from his forehead.
“What’s wrong with Mr. Washington?” he questioned.
There was a long period of silence between them. Skye sighed deeply.
“How the hell should I know? You’ve been the one been taking care of him, right? Maybe he’s just glad to be home and overexerted himself,” she finally responded.
“Yes, I’ve been working with him a few weeks before he was released. So maybe you’re right. I guess being home after so long is a lot for him to deal with. And for you as well,” Quinn said, grabbing the wheelchair and heading to Sandino’s room.
Skye followed Quinn and stood in the doorway. She watched as he lifted Sandino out the chair and into the bed. She noticed his crisp white Calvin Klein tight fitting brief underwear when he bent over.
Damn, I would love to see what he’s working with, she thought watching him closely as he performed his duties.
“You can come over and help if you like.”
“No, I’m good over here. That’s what you get paid for.”
“Yes, but you really need to know how to do all this just in case I’m not here one day,” Quinn advised.
“Well, if you’re not here, I’m not pulling my back out trying to lift his ass. Matter of fact, I need to get a back up nurse just in case.”
“Skye, can I tell you something?”
Skye shook her head. “Of course.”
“I know its hard dealing with a love one injured to this degree. But part of Sandino’s rehab and him getting on the road to recovery is to have positive people in his corner. I’m sure if the roles were reversed he wouldn’t hesitate to help you.”
Skye became pissed instantly.
“Quinn, I’m glad you think you know so much about Sandino Washington. But let me tell you something. I have been a damn good wife and devoted my life to that man for almost eighteen years. I supported him and continued to stand by his side after every stupid stunt he pulled in our personal life as well as his career. Any other woman probably would’ve walked out on him a long time ago. He’s always been the type of man who doesn’t give a fuck about anybody but himself and if he wasn’t paralyzed right now he would probably have his fist to my face. You have no idea what I’ve been through, so don’t tell me what I need to do in regards to that muthafucka,” she said, pointing at Sandino. “Next time, stay in your place, mind your business and remember who pays your salary. I’m the queen of this castle. All you need to be concerned with is making sure you keep him out of my fucking way,” Skye said, walking out the room.