Dina Andrea Nichols
Part One
…a year and five months later
Calistoga, California in the Napa Valley region had a population of just fewer than six
thousand and that is where Dina and Mindy decided to start their home life. Dina still
wanted to live in California and Mindy just wanted the dust to settle already. She'd
have preferred Guam.
Mindy went from cashier at the Quiggly Mart in San Diego to Napa Valley College to
study in the Science Mathematics and Engineering (SME) Division there as well as
an evening shift doing office cleaning.
Dina kept putting her further education off and that was starting to be a sore point for
Mindy who hated the thought of Dina wasting her mind and talents by the decision to
keep putting off school until the legal documents were signed making Dina Andrea
Nichols legally official. Or so she said, because they crossed that bridge a few
months ago and Mindy didn't see Dina make any progress in the furthering
education department.
They had a modest one bedroom second floor apartment. It was a simple house with
white aluminum siding.
Dina found a work-at-home job assembling jewelry. Waiting to be healed from the
last and final surgery of the labiaplasty where the end result would be a normal
looking vulva.
Mindy said a few months ago that, that wasn't necessary over their typical
supper of whatever was on sale at the supermarket. Which usually was ramen
noodles or macaroni.
Dina replied she didn't fully understand and went to sulk in their bedroom
rather than fight over what was beginning to feel like a forced relationship. Mindy
also didn't understand the need for the long blonde hair. Dina's own dark hair was
growing and was cute. Why did she want to be blonde? It was shoulder length and
had natural big wavy curls thanks to the tastefully done hair extensions. That was just
throwing away money in Mindy's conservative fiscally eyes. Dina's family had no
more to give as far as the financial aid went.
They were truly on their own and it wasn't everything she thought it'd be.
She also didn't expect to be purchasing aids in from what was nothing but a
borderline porn catalog. Just like those creepy yet perfectly legal places along the
interstates. This made her feel a slight tinge of resentment.
Was she even appreciated?
Mindy was "the man" in this relationship and no one ever stopped to ask her if she
was okay in losing her identity along the way. She almost thought of getting a hacked
hair cut to look the clichéd part.
The bitter Mindy was in the living room on her day off from both school and work
trying to paint the windowsill scalloped style edging a faded apple green since the
landlord gave them the okay to do so last week.
It had to start looking like a home and not a place that they settled on.
She dropped the paintbrush in the can when her big eyes had to be deceiving her as
she gazed out the window.
Morning was Dina's favorite time of day. There was something cleansing about
waking up and starting to like the face that was in the mirror. The face and body that
was always on the inside was finally on the outside.
Grammy let Dina have her vanity table. It was cherry wood and a family heirloom. It
wasn't monetarily worth anything, but it was worth everything to Dina. She didn't have
a Mason-Pearson brush, but her new friend on the online support group sent her one
that belonged to her grandmother. It was real silver and had a bit of weight to it. Dina
loved brushing her hair in long strokes that would have made Marcia Brady envious.
She had already taken her shower and did her face with a light green eye shadow
and peach blush.
She wanted to leave the white terry headband in her hair, because the goal of the
day was to help Mindy with the painting.
Dina positioned it in the middle of her head. She felt like a preppy schoolgirl. She
smoothed her hands over her standby corset even with the new body a foundation
was still needed. Never one to take a million years to decide what to wear she
grabbed her sundress. It was slightly below the knee and in a nice yellow and green
stripe pattern.
It also was easy on/off and she didn't care if this one got dirty while painting.
But she didn't want her pink Ked's to get filthy, but they were the only sneakers she
had.
Admiring her frame in the full-length mirror that was glued to the inside of the closet
door she had no idea on what was going on outside.
Mindy sped like a robber leaving a convenience store after a heist to get out the front
door and on to the porch.
She knew this day was going to come.
How did he know where to find them?
"Stop right there."
She made sure to keep her voice as quiet as possible.
"Is J-Dina home?"
"Do you honestly think that I'm going to let you in our home?" Mindy stood in front of
Drake so he couldn't get passed the third step.
"If you really cared about Dina you would."
"You have got to be fucking kidding me! If I really cared about Dina, you're joking
right? You humiliated her in school, you didn't attempt any contact, she cried for you
on too many occasions to even bother counting."
"I'm sorry." And if she looked into his brown regret filled eyes, Mindy the usually
astute person would have noticed this.
"Sorry? You think everything can be wiped away with a simple, 'I'm sorry'? You are
NOT welcome here, Drake. Nor will you ever be."
"That's enough." Dina opened the screen door.
Her eyes glazed over with tears. She gently pushed Mindy to the side.
"Why don't you go somewhere for awhile?"
Mindy couldn't believe what Dina had the audacity to whisper in her ear.
It was always about him!
Always!
"Fine." She shot Drake an if-looks-could-kill look and ran up the stairs to get her keys
and go for a long drive since Dina decided who was more important.
It was always about him!
Always!
And she was quite sick of it all.
"Am I welcome here?" Drake asked with hesitation in his voice. Afraid to take
another step forward. This was a new person standing in front of him and he did want
to get to know her.
He looked the same to Dina. Except for the eyes. Dina could tell it's where Drake
Parker always wore his pain. The same rock star hair, the jeans, a blue t-shirt with a
logo of some kind on it, a denim jacket, and rock star boots. That was the point.
Drake was comfortable in his masculinity.
"Of course you are," She walked towards him, "I missed you, Drake."
Dina wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. She needed it. He needed
it. They both did. Dina was glad he had her arms around her because she was in full
sob mode.
He was back.
Drake hoped that they could have a second chance to rebuild what was lost and that
Mindy wouldn't do anything to stop it.
"I missed you too," He wasn't afraid to admit he was also crying on her shoulder,
"Dina."
Dina bit her lip there were still some rocky roads that were going to have to be
traveled on and the only thing that she could hope for was that her brother would be
by her side this time.
"Why don't you come inside?"
Author's Note: To be continued. The reason for the advance in time is because
this could easily become another fifty-chapter story ala Knit Cap. So, I have to
condense a bit.