Mandy, Mindy and Me (Closed Thread)

[DeliciousMaiden]

Mindy

"Depends? On what?"

Almost casually Mindy responded without thought.

”My schedule … at college … social events my parents want me to attend … that can prevent me getting here … but if there’s an exhibition on … like today … I’ll get down more often … I was here on Tuesday too … “

Her eyes moved back to the dragon. She’d love to have a go at drawing that … perhaps she could manage to have a go from the guide book. She glanced down at the page as Dr Connors held the book.

"You never take any of your family here, do you? As maybe a weekend visit or something?"

Caught off guard, Mindy smiled and actually chuckled.

”You are joking right?”

She sobered.

”I never take my parents anywhere … always the reverse … they’d only come here if it were some opening, or publicity event … and as for ‘Manda … well … she wouldn’t have let on how she hates these kind of places … “

She hesitated, unsure of what to tell him.

”Besides … no one knows I come here … especially so often … they’d think it was a waste of space … and I can be alone here … a refuge… “

She caught his eye and blushed.

 

[poohlive]

"Well, I've seen all kinds of those in my profession, but never one quite as artistic as yours. You have a real gift at looking at the world, I do hope you use it."
He gave her a warm smile, moving through the collection of photography. A lot of them just dazzling to the eye. He barely had the chance to see one, before another caught him.
"I don't come here as often as I should. I hear visiting pieces from time to time, always want to come and see... but when I finally work my schedule out, it seems something just comes up. It's exhausting. You'd never know just sitting and talking to someone takes up so much time."
For a moment, he seemed lost in his own world a bit, but then he came back, watching her.
"What do you really try to escape from coming here? Is it that bad at home?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Mindy

"Well, I've seen all kinds of those in my profession, but never one quite as artistic as yours. You have a real gift at looking at the world, I do hope you use it."

Mindy shrugged without comment. Her parents would never allow that, or anything she truly enjoyed doing. She smiled as they moved wordlessly through the collection, her eyes straying to watch the Doctor’s response to the photos and liking the interest she saw there.

"I don't come here as often as I should. I hear visiting pieces from time to time, always want to come and see... but when I finally work my schedule out, it seems something just comes up.”

She nodded sympathetically, interested in hearing a bit about him rather than just the questions.

”It's exhausting. You'd never know just sitting and talking to someone takes up so much time."

She’d never considered it from the other side. This was just a job to him … well maybe this part wasn’t … but maybe it was …

"What do you really try to escape from coming here? Is it that bad at home?"

She shrugged, but refused to comment.

”You said your work is exhausting … all that listening … I think I’ve taken up enough of your time … “

Mindy eased away from him and began to make her way to the exit of the exhibition.
For a brief time she had enjoyed the conversation … his company … but … she had to be realistic … and his words had brought her into check.
Mindy turned as he approached and held out her hand.

”Thank you Doctor … I enjoyed that … very much … “

She eased her hand free and lowered her eyes not wanting him to realise how starved she was of real company.

”You’ll call my father then…?”

 

[poohlive]

She shied away from him, closing herself off once more. Almost like a flower, after the sun had dropped from the sky. It shrivels, closing in, waiting for the next day to open up once more.
"I'll tell you what," He gave a call to his office, making sure that monday was free... it was, "I want to see you monday. You and your sister, Amanda. We're all going to sit down, talk about what happened here today. And then, after I'm satisfied, I'll call your father, and tell him whatever you want me to tell him, deal?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Mindy

"I'll tell you what,"

Mindy watched him take out the phone notifying the office that he would be “unavailable” on Monday. She waited unsure what relevance that call had to her.

"I want to see you monday. You and your sister, Amanda. We're all going to sit down, talk about what happened here today. And then, after I'm satisfied, I'll call your father, and tell him whatever you want me to tell him, deal?"

She listened with growing horror.

”No … “

She said simply.

”I have to sort things with Amanda myself … somehow … if you call my father off that will be easy … if not …”

Her eyes sparked with tears again. She tucked the book under her arm and thrust her hands into pockets.

”I’m sorry we messed you about … but … we’ll be fine now … once ‘Manda has calmed down.“

 

[poohlive]

"Nope," Connors shook his head, looking at her now, so closed in, so drawn. Did she fear her sister that much?
"Once she calms down? Oh, Sweetie. You don't have to be like that. You can confront here, you know. I am not taking no for an answer. Either I get both of you in my office on Monday... or I'll call your father right now, and tell him that Amanda made up this big conspiracy to pull herself off as you. Which is it?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Mindy

"Nope,"

Mindy stared at the Doctor warily.

"Once she calms down? Oh, Sweetie. You don't have to be like that. You can confront here, you know.”

The endearment almost melted her resolve, almost. He seemed to care … but his next words froze up the warmth that casual phrase had caused.

”I am not taking no for an answer. Either I get both of you in my office on Monday... or I'll call your father right now, and tell him that Amanda made up this big conspiracy to pull herself off as you. Which is it?"

Melinda gasped and paled.

”You … “

She shook her head unable to believe what she heard.
If her father thought Amanda had done that … her sister would go through hell.
She couldn’t let that happen. She knew she had to show on Monday and that she had to get her sister there too … but if he thought she would trust him again, then he was sadly mistaken.

”Fine.”

Her voice was flat, expressionless, her eyes met his, their depths holding a wealth of sadness.
How could he do that to her?
Why did she feel so betrayed?
How had she allowed herself to begin to believe he gave a damn?

”But we’ll be in your office at … 9 am … I’m not going anywhere else with you. You can phone father from there before we leave.”

She wasn’t going to take any chances this time.
Now she had to “sell” the idea to her sister.

 

[poohlive]

He sighed, wanting to apologize, wanting to hug her, and say it would be all right, that this was just some bad dream, but he couldn't... and he didn't. There was no more excuses, none that she could buy.
He paused, wanting to leave her with some lasting impression, even if it was futile and pointless. In the end, though, he just gave her the book back.
"Thank you," He walked back to his car.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Mindy

"Thank you ..."

Mindy wondered for what!?!?

For giving him the opportunity to blackmail her, to blackmail both her and Amanda!?!?

She turned and walked dry eyed out of the gallery knowing it would be a while before she returned there, her peace of mind and her place of refuge spoiled.

And now she had to face Amanda ...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Mandy

She hurried out of there like the Devil himself was at her heels, and that's exactly how she felt! Lord how she screwed that up, if only Mindy hadn't totally shocked the hell out of her by being there, things might have gotten done and over with..

Now.. She sighed, hailing a taxi.

Now she was in for an even worse fate if Dr. Connors decided to call her father! She paled visibly, wondering what would happen if Father found out? And worse, what would happen to Mindy if Father found out? She knew she'd take the blame and deal with him herself, this was a complete disaster!

"Meadow-Brooke" She barked at the driver, but they were used to it, so she didn't feel bad about it. Seated, she arranged herself comfortably as possible, noting the shaking hands.

This won't do! Get control of yourself!

Father would disapprove of her having no self control in public like this, definitely had to wait until she got herself home. She stared blindly out the window, paid the cab and almost ran into the house.

She peered inside the door, listening and waiting. But she knew her parents, knew they would be busy elsewhere. Mother had her club and Father had his business to see to, even on Saturdays.. She would be able to sneak into her room unnoticed...

"Amanda Jane?" The cool emotionless voice of her Father, "Why are you lurking in the doorway?" He stood between the sittingroom doorway and the foyer. Now she felt trapped, how could she explain this odd behavior? "Well?" His arms were never folded, his facial features never changed to show even the slightest emotion.. She wondered how her mother ever became pregnant with twins around this Ice Block?

"I was.. Just making sure that Rose wasn't cleaning the floor before I came in.." She hurried a reasonable explanation.. if she was Mindy!

Was it her imagination? Or did her Father almost make a sarcastic face? Almost happened, or her eyes were playing tricks on her.
"That is.. Never mind. Come in.. Come in!" he snapped at her, moving to the door to pull it wide open, waiting patiently as she entered.
Well that was awkward.

"You're acting a little strangely lately, something wrong with school? Grades? Someone at school?"
"No, no.. Just been busy Father. Mindy home?" Her eyes scanned for signs her sister had been through here, not even a hint this house housed young adults. Never a sign when it had been actual children! She was beginning to hate perfection.
"Busy with what?" He completely ignored her question regarding Mindy as if she weren't a concern.
"I need to speak with Mindy, just stuff." She never had been disrespectful to her Father... not when he was in the room anyway, but she walked past him and headed up the stairs.

At first he didn't know how to react, but it only took him a second to snap loudly at her to turn back around.
"I asked you a question."
"And I asked you one too, but since you didn't answer me, I guess I will have to find out on my own!" She snapped back. She did have her Father's temperment. Turning on her heels, she marched upstairs to their suites to wait, uncaring if she just won herself expulsion from the old man's will.

That was the least of her worries if Dr. Connors decided to call, or worse pay them a visit. Her temper was now boiling, needed something to vent it on was short in supply, so she paced in her bedroom.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Melinda

Mindy closed the door quietly and stood listening for sounds to give a clue as to who was home. The house seemed unnaturally silent for a Saturday and the fact worried her. Swiftly she made her way up the staircase, her feet barely touching in her haste to get to her room and before she lost her determination to face her sister. She had barely dropped the book on the bed when she heard the voice from the room adjacent to her own.

”Melinda? Is that you?”

Shedding the jacket, Mindy cast it aside onto the bed and moved out of her own room, standing at the threshold of her sister’s room. This move on its own was out of character for her. It was usually Amanda who approached the younger sister, entering her room, picking up and through her things and then stomping back to her own bedroom again.

”I’m here. I’ve been trying to sort things …”

She saw the scowl on her sister’s face and took a breath rushing on.

”I think we can get away with it Manda … all he wants … is for us to go see him Monday … together … “

She took a steadying breath and forced herself to speak convincingly.

”If we go and sit listen to his theories and let on we’re answering his questions, then he’ll phone father and tell him he’s “fixed” me.”

She forced a smile. Even to her ears it sounded reasonable, given the circumstances.
Please God, don’t let Amanda find out that she had been offered a way out before the ultimatum … one that she declined just because he had made her believe that he cared enough to listen to her and value her opinions.

”We have to give it a try, Mandy … if not … “

She clamped her mouth shut.
Oops … that was better not said.
She might not like it, but her big sister was nothing if not practical.
Mindy was sure that she’d agree … the only question was just how angry she was about the chance meeting and how much she would make Mindy suffer first?

 

[Sweetp4u]

Mandy

"I screwed up this time around.." She admitted it to her sister before she could clamp her mouth shut. She wasn't really angry at Mindy, she was angry at herself! This should have gone so much smoother!

"He seriously wants us both in there?! Has he lost his mind?!" She gaped at her sister then began to pace around. Aggitated was a understatement.

"Mindy..." She sighed, her fingers going to the bridge of her nose as she applied slight pressure. She felt a migrain coming on and that wasn't good either.

"Alright!" Her sister's explanations and excuses weren't her fault, She failed this one... When was the last time she failed anything? She couldn't really remember failing and so this stung her pride a wee bit....

When they arrived the next morning at the Doctor's office, Mandy felt the tensions rising again. Mindy had been silent, not pressing anything this early in the morning, knowing Mandy's temperment.
"We'll do this only so Father has neither of our asses in a sling.. but don't expect me to be nice to him or say anything.. You do the talking!" She whispered harshly to Mindy as she escorted her sister inside the building.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Melinda

"I screwed up this time around.."

Mindy’s eyes widened but she was so shocked that she did not comment. She had never heard her sister take responsibility. She had so expected Mandy to launch into her that she did not know what to say.

"He seriously wants us both in there?! Has he lost his mind?!"

Mindy nodded as a nervous giggle escaped her.
Her sister seemed more ill at ease than she herself and it was a strange feeling as she crossed the room to sit on the bed and watched ‘Manda pace the room.

She gaped at her sister then began to pace around. Aggitated was a understatement.

"Mindy.... Alright!"

She seemed to come to a decision and Melinda could not help the smile of relief that spread across her face.

”It’ll be OK ‘Mand’ really it will!”

She moved towards her sister and hugged her reassuringly, both sisters drawing apart as if in shock that for once they seemed on the same side and had a common goal. With a shy smile, Mindy fled the room.

Just one appointment and it would all be right, she told herself.

Of course, her optimism had been largely due to the relief she had felt when Amanda agreed to the plan of a shared appointment. As they arrived at the office, Amanda was so wound up that her mood had transferred itself to Melinda who couldn’t help but fidget nervously until her sister took her arm and all but marched them into the building.

"We'll do this only so Father has neither of our asses in a sling.. but don't expect me to be nice to him or say anything.. You do the talking!"

Mindy nodded, her mind racing.
Being nice to this man who had gotten her to trust him, pretended interest and concern and then blackmailed her into this appointment was not going to be easy.
At least she had gotten used to talking to him after their discussions that Saturday.

”I just want to get this over with too …”

She told her sister seeing the receptionist blink and do a double take, before hastily picking up the telephone to announce their arrival.

They looked up as one when Doctor Connors opened his office door and took a step towards them.
Before him sat two young women, both with their hair loose about their shoulders, wearing floral skirts and plain pastel blouses.
Each had a similar shoulder bag, sandals and jacket.
And both looked up at him with suspicion and dislike…

 

[poohlive]

They sat, for a while, in complete silence, the only hum a drone dull roar from his computer, which sat idly by, watching the charades from his own perspective.
Connors sat through his notes, wafting through, most of them useless. Compromised would have been the word, he remembered it from some class. Patients growing too deep of a relationship with their therapists, attachment issues, lying, several factors.
None of them could be parallelled here, but still, it fit as good as anything else. Compromised.
"Well, here we are then. Two sisters. You must really love each other. Most people would be jealous of the closeness you have. It takes a lot to plan and scheme like that. I would imagine you didn't just jump to it lightly."
He wrote something down, the silence growing awkward.
"So, why don't we start with your father? He seems to be the reason you're here, and the reason you want out so bad. Anyone?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Melinda

Melinda sat through the silence. She clasped her hands together and forced herself not to fidget and not to glance too openly at the doctor opposite as he thumbed through his notes and glanced across at them now and then.

"Well, here we are then. Two sisters."

Mindy jumped when he finally spoke, although his voice was soft and unaccusing.

"You must really love each other."

She met Mandy's eyes and knew made a tacit agreement that they would let him theorise and not pass comment.

"Most people would be jealous of the closeness you have.
It takes a lot to plan and scheme like that. I would imagine you didn't just jump to it lightly."

Both girls glanced up as his attention went to the paper he held in front of him as he wrote something down.
They exchanged worried glances, but still neither of them commented.

"So, why don't we start with your father?"

Beside her Mindy felt Mandy tense.

He seems to be the reason you're here, and the reason you want out so bad. Anyone?"

Again the silence, a silence that was becoming unbearable.
Mandy had said that she wouldn't speak, so it was up to Mindy, at least at first to play the game.

"This isn't what you said we'd be talking about today Doctor."

Her voice shook slightly as she tried to assert herself.

"You asked that we come to discuss what happened on Saturday and to make sure that Mandy and I had made up afterwards."

She shifted uncomfortably as the Doctor fixed his gaze upon her.

"And as you see ... we're fine ... and ... I thought I'd explained everything last Saturday. I really don't see the point of all this ..."

She shrugged and glanced at her still silent sister, realising that it was the most she had said in front of her for a long time.

 

[poohlive]

"I see you're fine?" Connors gave a little laugh, "How do I see that you're fine, Mindy? Cause you aren't yelling at each other at this exact moment? Cause, you decided I'm some outside head shrink, so you can't say anything about your father, or your problems, or what happened, or hell... much of anything at all. You came in here with a plan to just shut up, answer my questions and then get going.

"Yeah, I'm sure you've practiced it at home, what you wanted to say to me, your explanations about Saturday. Doesn't matter, it'll be bullshit. I know it, you know it. We can't talk about Saturday, because you'll just tell me what I want to hear. 'Sorry, Doc, we were just having some fun. You know, normal sister things. Sisters do that. We're fine. Nothing wrong with us.'"

Connors got up, looking out the window, the blinds were down, but not closed. They sent a wall of stripes across the room, revealing and concealing more than enough.

"So, are we going to figure something out here today, or am I just going to get some made up answers and pretty smiling faces?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Melinda

"I see you're fine?
How do I see that you're fine, Mindy?
Cause you aren't yelling at each other at this exact moment? Cause, you decided I'm some outside head shrink, so you can't say anything about your father, or your problems, or what happened, or hell... much of anything at all.
You came in here with a plan to just shut up, answer my questions and then get going."

Mindy's eyes widened in consternation.
He knew their plan exactly and what's more he seemed to be getting angrier and angrier.

"Yeah, I'm sure you've practiced it at home, what you wanted to say to me, your explanations about Saturday.
Doesn't matter, it'll be bullshit. I know it, you know it.
We can't talk about Saturday, because you'll just tell me what I want to hear. 'Sorry, Doc, we were just having some fun.
You know, normal sister things. Sisters do that. We're fine. Nothing wrong with us.'"

Melinda looked helplessly at her sister.
How could he talk about her AND Mandy like that?
The only consolation was that he was so wrong!
She and Amanda hadn't talked, hadn't practised this.
Amanda had merely agreed to go along and told Mindy to deal with the questions.
In fact as she thought about it, they didn't do the normal fun sister things. Mandy always told her what to do and she followed.

But of course Mindy wasn't going to say anything about that.

"So, are we going to figure something out here today, or am I just going to get some made up answers and pretty smiling faces?"

Mindy looked up to meet the gaze of the Doctor as he looked down at them.
She felt guilty, trapped and too much aware that her sister was watching her reactions and listening to her words as closely as Connors.
It felt as if Mandy had taken herself out of the situation and merely observing.
It had been Mindy's original "problem" and she supposed Mandy wasn't going to do much to help her out here.

"I said everything I had to say on Saturday ... "

Her speech was barely audible.

She shrugged dismissively.
She really had no idea of what he expected her to say or do now.

 

[poohlive]

"Apparently. No need to waste my time any more. No need to waste yours, you seem to have tons of other things to do, Mindy. I am sorry I'm keeping you. We don't even need to waste your father's money. We're out of things to discuss."
Connors sat down on his computer, flipping it on, and pressing a few buttons.
"Don't say I didn't try... Good day to you both."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Mandy

She had taken herself out of this 'little scene'. Who really cares what that head shrinker wanted from them anyway, as long as he released Mindy from his care.

His rude comments didn't go unnoticed, nor did Mindy's reactions.. Or lack there of.

"Really." She huffed with barely surpressed anger, "How kind of you Doc." Her eyes swung to her sister's profile, studying it carefully. "See that is why Father sent you here to begin with!" She snapped out angrily, tired of seeing Mindy cowar to everyone and everything!

Sifting sideways in the chair she scolded her sister, "If you'd just assert yourself we wouldn't be doing any of this." She said it with total conviction that she was right .. since Father was always right.

Her arms folded under her breasts as she sat with that expectant look on her face. She expected her sister to answer her!
"I don't care how rude this Doctor is, Min. Father wants... Hell with Father! I want to find out as much as he does, but for different reasons. Now since you told him something on Saturday, I want to know what.. And I want to know why you can't assert yourself too!"

Really, who paid this man anything? He never went for the blood! He wouldn't get answers being such a pansy. She glanced briefly at him, not caring if he played with his little computer or not! Before they leave this room, Mindy was going to spill some beans.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Mindy

"Really. How kind of you Doc."

Mindy tensed. She could sense her sister's anger about to boil over and fixed her eyes on the floor not wanting the doctor to see her sister in full fury.

"See that is why Father sent you here to begin with!"

The accusation cut to the raw. Mindy flinched visibly as if Mandy had hit her.

"If you'd just assert yourself we wouldn't be doing any of this."

God no. She could feel the tears welling. She could feel both sets of accusing eyes on her and there was nothing she could do to stem the flow.

"I don't care how rude this Doctor is, Min. Father wants... Hell with Father! I want to find out as much as he does, but for different reasons.

Mindy's face turned towards her sister, feeling betrayed and aghast at her words.

"Now since you told him something on Saturday, I want to know what.. And I want to know why you can't assert yourself too!"

Mindy turned to glance with helpless appeal at Doctor Connors. She had all but curled herself up as if trying to disappear into the chair during Mandy's tirade. Mandy always made her feel like that: stupid ... worthless. And now ...
Would the doctor repeat all they had said on Saturday? ...
Might he even tell Mandy he'd agreed to call their father and release Mindy?!

Mindy would never forgive her if she knew that.
Either way, this ordeal was her worst nightmare.

Mutely she shook her head, tears falling silently.
What answer could she give?

 

[poohlive]

Connors looked up, confused for a moment. He watched Mandy's movements, her emotions running. For some reason, it reminded him of what her father might look like, or do if this were him in the same situation.

"What do you care if she learns to stand up for herself, Mandy? Weren't you the one who concocted this grande scheme? You planned this, so I could give Mindy a bill of health, and you wouldn't have to deal with me, ever again. Now, you want me to actually do something?"

Connors picked up his notes, sitting down across from the sofa.

"What I do here isn't miracle working. I don't give you a few pointy lessons and send you on your merry way. People come to therapists like myself because they have major social and psychological problems that are preventing them from having a normal life. It takes months, even years to do my job... but it's not dependant on me. It doesn't matter how smart, or how clever, or how good I am, or how many tricks I can use. The only thing that matters is the person accepting there's a problem, and wanting to change.

"Now, if you can't get passed that, Mindy, the door is open. Be my guest... But, you've got your father, your mother, and now even your sister telling you something's wrong. If they can't convince you, I don't think we have anything else to discuss."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Mandy

"Well Doc, I didn't ask you to do anything now did I?" She gave him a sassy little glare before gazing at her sister's bent head.

Would Mindy ever learn??

"There is nothing wrong with her that a good dose of self confidence couldn't cure... " She slouched back in her chair, muttering quieter, "Or Father's death."

"Tell him Mindy." She pushed her sister to answer the doctor, but why? She didn't really want to discuss their family, nor wanted each little dirty secret or flaw spilled all over the place. But she did want her sister to stand up for herself, that way when Amanda left, Miranda wouldn't be at their mercy.

And Naturally Mindy wouldn't tell anything about her sister.. Would she?

Mandy switched from staring at the bookcase to studying her sister's bent head again.

"You see Doc? That's why she's here. Because Daddy can't make her into himself. He can't make her a corporate killer, or a lethal lawyer like Mother. She's too meek, and of course our loving Father thinks it's a flaw." Just like her dancing, Mindy's acting and all their social functions the girls attended. Even who they dated was always flawed in some way.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Melinda

Mindy made no comment as the doctor responded to her sister, raising her head only when his comments were directed to her.

”People come to therapists like myself because they have major social and psychological problems that are preventing them from having a normal life. It takes months, even years to do my job... but it's not dependant on me. It doesn't matter how smart, or how clever, or how good I am, or how many tricks I can use. The only thing that matters is the person accepting there's a problem, and wanting to change.
Now, if you can't get passed that, Mindy, the door is open. Be my guest... But, you've got your father, your mother, and now even your sister telling you something's wrong. If they can't convince you, I don't think we have anything else to discuss."

Mindy paled in shock, her tears momentarily halting.
Her sister seemed almost to be gloating.
He had said it … “ … major social and psychological prolems … “ and yet surely he had said at the gallery that there was nothing truly wrong with her?

"Tell him Mindy."

Mindy looked into her sister’s eyes. She seemed so smug, so secure.
She had said tell. But did she know what she was asking?

"You see Doc? That's why she's here. Because Daddy can't make her into himself. He can't make her a corporate killer, or a lethal lawyer like Mother. She's too meek, and of course our loving Father thinks it's a flaw."

On and on … tearing her apart … words so destructive … hateful almost.
Mindy wondered for the first time if her sister really gave a damn about her or not.

”I’d be fine if you all just left me alone ..”

Mindy’s voice was quiet, but firm as she glared at her sister.

”Why isn’t it just being me enough? Why is that so bad?”

She looked over at Mandy, ignoring the doctor and unaware of the tears that were flowing once more, her expression full of pained bewilderment.

”I don’t want to be like mum or dad.
I always wanted to be more like you … to able to please them …
But now …

She turned away from her sister and looked at the doctor.

”I just wish I were miles away from everyone … so I could just be me …
There wouldn’t be a problem then! ”

 

[poohlive]

"Then why don't you tell them," Connors had moved down, on the floor now, next to Mindy, his hands holding hers, looking up at her, reassuring her of this truth.
"Tell them who you are. Tell them what you are. Tell them you're not like them. You'll never be like them. You can't be Mandy, or your father, or even your mother. All you can ever be, is yourself. That's all anyone should expect from you."
Connors shook his head, as if the answer were there all along.
"You've said so yourself, so many times, the only way to end this was if I confront your father, but you're wrong. The only way to confront this is if you talk to him. You tell him, you tell your sister too. You tell them everything."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Mindy

"Then why don't you tell them,"

Mindy met his eyes as he took her hands between his, the presence of her sister temporarily forgotten.

"Tell them who you are. Tell them what you are. Tell them you're not like them. You'll never be like them. You can't be Mandy, or your father, or even your mother. All you can ever be, is yourself. That's all anyone should expect from you."

Mindy searched his eyes. Was he serious? How could she even begin to ...?

"You've said so yourself, so many times, the only way to end this was if I confront your father, but you're wrong.
The only way to confront this is if you talk to him.
You tell him, you tell your sister too. You tell them everything."

Mindy sighed.

"I used to ... used to try to tell them ... but ...
No one listened ... no one cared to listen ... and in the end I just stopped trying ... "

She searched his eyes.
Did he understand at all? How she'd been put down ignored over and over until it was just easier to retreat and try to get away at every opportunity. The books, the gallery ... they were all true interests, but they were all escapes.

"They wouldn't want "me". Everything I do is wrong.
Even with Mandy ... "

She halted then remembering her sister was present, managing to halt just short of betrayal, her eyes darting quickly in Amanda's direction and retreating into silence.