What Matters Most (13 page)

“Something bothering you, Maya?” he finally asked.

“Sort of.”

“Is it about your mom? Are you concerned that she might be getting in over her head?”

I nodded. “Actually I’m concerned for you as well. And Marissa too.”

“It’s a complicated setup. I’ll give you that.”

“But there’s more to it…” I bit my lip and waited.

“How so?”

“Can I just cut to the chase?”

“I wish you would.”

“Did my mom tell you that she was just released from prison?”

His dark brows arched slightly. “No. Do you want to explain?”

And so I did explain. I didn’t tell him everything, but enough. “I’m sorry to be the one to dump all this on you, but it seemed like you deserve to know. And I’ll admit that I’m worried for Marissa’s sake.”

“I guess I should’ve done some investigating on my own. I just figured that if she was your mom, well, she must be a decent person.”

“Marissa told me a little about her mom, and I think our moms might be similar…if you know what I mean.”

“Then why is Shannon so interested in helping me with Marissa?” He seemed to be asking this of himself as much as he was asking me.

“I don’t know exactly why. I mean, it’s pretty out of character for her to care about anyone. I know that sounds terrible, but it’s true.”

“Do you suppose she’s changed?”

I didn’t answer.

“Prison changes some people.” He frowned. “Although statistics would tell a different story.”

“I wish she had changed. But I’ve been disappointed so many times that I kind of gave up hope.”

“I wonder what I should do.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

He looked so sad now, like I really had burst his balloon.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not your fault. I appreciate your honesty.”

“Maybe I should’ve said something sooner.”

“I’m sorry you had to say anything at all.”

“I guess I thought this whole thing might’ve blown over by now. Like Shannon would’ve upped and gone, and you’d have seen what she’s really like. In fact, I’m rather surprised she’s still around and wanting to do this.”

“She’s been volunteering at the nursing home, you know.”

“I know…”

He looked intently at me now. “What if she really has changed, Maya? Or what if she really wants to change?”

I shrugged.

“To be honest, I’m in a tough spot now. Marissa has her heart set on coming home. And the situation with Shannon working for room and board initially and possibly pay later on…well, it was like a gift from God.”

I thought about the Trojan horse and how it appeared to be a gift too but was really just a diabolical trick.

“But now I suppose I should rethink that plan.”

“I don’t know…” I felt so guilty. “I mean, there’s always the possibility that she’s changed. I just don’t know.”

“Yes, this is something I’ll have to figure out for myself.”

“I just wanted you to know the truth… because I care about Marissa.”

“I appreciate it.”

“By the way, do you think you’ll want to bring her to the harvest party tomorrow night?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll do my best, but it might be a challenge since Marissa might be released to go home by then. I’m meeting with the doctor today.”

I felt so sorry for him as I left the coffee shop. How hard would it be to deal with what’s been put on his plate? A rotten marriage, followed by a rebellious daughter, and then the accident? I know my life hasn’t been exactly a bed of roses, but at least I’m not responsible for a brain-damaged child. Then you add Shannon to this poor man’s already messed-up life, and it gets really sad. Why did she have to get their hopes up like this?

I
t’s been a long, crazy day, but for the most part it’s been good. It started with another early-morning call from Dad. This time he did surprise me. It turned out that his investigative snooping into Redemption turned out better than he’d expected. “They sound like a legitimately healthy band,” he told me.

“So you don’t mind if I join them?”

“I’m not saying that I think a musician’s life is great.” He paused, and I could imagine him closing his eyes and tilting his head back like he does when he’s thinking. “But I do trust your judgment, Maya. You have a good head on your shoulders. Where you got it from is a mystery.” He chuckled. “Maybe Grandma Carolina passed some good DNA your way.”

I thanked him for the compliment, and he asked if I had decided for sure that I was going to do it.

“I think so.” Then I explained the trial-period addendum.

“That’s a smart plan, Maya. Tell your attorney thank you from me.”

“Some free concert tickets might be a nice thank-you,” I teased. “Remember that Robert and Jackie are big Nick Stark fans.”

“It’s a done deal. But I won’t be performing stateside until spring.”

“I’m sure they won’t complain.”

Dad said he wished his European tour was shorter. “The life of a musician,” he said with a sigh. “You don’t get much say in where and when you play. You just thank your lucky stars that anyone wants to listen.”

I wanted to say I’d rather thank God but didn’t want to sound too preachy. Still, I might write something like that to him in an e-mail. I’m better at sharing my faith through the written word. I guess that’s why I like to keep a journal and write my column… and, more recently, write songs.

“I wish I could hear you perform, Maya. Any chance you girls will make it across the pond?”

“I doubt it. At least not for a while. The first concerts are supposed to be pretty low key, kind of getting used to each other or getting fans used to us.”

“That makes sense.”

Then I told Dad about my court date and that I thought I had everything in order.

“I’m sure most parents wouldn’t be happy to hear that kind of news, but in your case I feel nothing but relief. Have you told Shannon?”

“No. I thought I’d wait until after the fact.”

“That’s wise. You don’t want her to do anything to slow it down.”

“That’s what Robert Bernard said too.”

“So my little girl is in good hands.”

“Yes…and in God’s hands.”

“That’s a relief too.”

Then we said good-bye, and I felt (more than ever) that I had already made my final decision to join Redemption. I almost called Chloe to tell her the good news but then decided to wait until the harvest party tonight.

So I was getting ready for what was starting to feel like my big debut concert, and I realized I was clueless about what to wear. I mean, I’ve learned how to dress fashionably for working at Jacqueline’s (my modeling stint helped with that), and I know how to dress for my green spot on TV (don’t wear white or black or stripes), but I have no idea how to dress for my new role as rocker chick. I seriously tried on about a dozen outfits before I finally settled on a brown turtleneck over a short plaid skirt, black leggings, and a pair of clunky Earth shoes. Now I realize this didn’t exactly shout out “rocker chick,” but it was the best I could do.

But when I got to the church sanctuary where everything was set up for our concert, I knew that my outfit wasn’t quite right. Chloe and Allie both looked great—a cross between rocker, retro, and urban chic.

“I didn’t know what to wear,” I admitted.

“You’re fine,” Chloe assured me.

“For tonight anyway,” said Allie.

“Have you decided—” Just then Chloe stopped talking and pointed to where Marissa and her dad and Shannon were approaching us.

“You came!” I ran over to hug Marissa.

She smiled shyly. “Yes. Dad brought me.”

“Have you moved back home yet?” asked Chloe.

Marissa nodded. “Yes. Home.”

“Is it great being back in your own bed?” asked Allie.

“Great.” Marissa smiled even bigger now.

“Shannon is helping with Marissa.” Adam said this more to me than to Chloe and Allie. I wondered if he’d talked to Shannon or had simply decided that he was too desperate to turn her out.

“Hi, Shannon,” I said with hesitation. Then I realized I should introduce her to my friends. But I knew it would be awkward. So I did a stiff intro, telling them that she was my mom and trying to act perfectly natural, like she and I were on the best of terms. Naturally, she just played along, like she always does.

“Maya’s doing music with us tonight,” Chloe said.

“Really?” Shannon looked shocked by this.

“In fact, we should probably go do a sound test,” Allie added quickly.

“That’s right,” Chloe said. “We need to make sure we’re all set.”

I wanted to thank and hug them both.

“And we’ll get seats,” said Adam. The sanctuary was starting to fill up. Plus there were lots of people down in the basement where the harvest party was already in high gear.

“In front?” asked Marissa. “To see Maya and Chloe and Allie?”

“Sure, wherever you want, princess.” He smiled at her, and it was such a tender moment that I felt like crying. Until I noticed Shannon there too. That took all the sweetness out of the picture for me. But fortunately I didn’t have to think about that then. I focused on our sound test and tuning my guitar and the music and anything besides my mother.

“Come with us,” Chloe told me once it was pretty much set up. And we went to a small back room, and Allie closed the door.

“We always pray before a concert,” Chloe explained.

I sighed in relief. “Thanks, I could use that.”

And so the three of us joined hands and prayed. And I can’t even write how cool it was—it’s like God was right there with us. Amazing! We prayed that our music would bless people. They prayed for Shannon. And we all prayed that hearts would be generous toward Marissa tonight.

“I thought we could invite her onto the stage at the end,” said Chloe. “Do you think she’d like that?”

“I think so,” I told her. “I know she likes being with us. Too bad she didn’t bring her recorder. She knows ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ now.”

“I bet there’s a recorder in the church somewhere,” said Allie. “I’ll ask Willy to look around.”

“Do you think she’d really want to play it in front of all those people?” asked Chloe.

“We could sing with her,” I suggested. “You know, just quietly and no instruments but so she doesn’t feel too alone or scared.”

“Cool!” Allie nodded. “That would be very cool.”

I looked at my watch now. “Shouldn’t we be out there by now?”

“Probably so.” Allie reached for the door.

“But before we go out there…” Chloe had a questioning look in her eye. “Are you going to tell us your decision or—”

“Are you ready, ladies?” asked Willy. “Because your fans await.”

Allie quickly told him about our need for a recorder, which he didn’t even question, and the next thing I knew we were onstage, and Chloe’s mike was on, and she was introducing us—to a packed house.

To say I had butterflies would be an understatement, but I just did what I always do when I’m in a situation like that. I block it all out. I pretend like no one is watching me and simply focus on what I’m doing and try to do my best. Fortunately, Chloe and Allie are old pros at this, and even if I had blown it, which I didn’t, they would have carried on just fine without me.

But I actually think we sounded pretty good, because the crowd was very enthusiastic, and when we finished, we got a standing ovation (which Chloe and Allie had predicted). And so we played the final song, one that Chloe wrote—about generosity. Then after the applause finally died down, Chloe addressed the audience.

“Some of you are aware that tonight’s concert, while free, was really meant to be a fund-raising event.” She looked down at Marissa. “A very dear friend of ours, Marissa Phillips, was in a nearly fatal car accident last summer. She suffered a serious brain injury, and her recovery has been slow and painful—not only to Marissa but to the family budget as well. Our hope is that tonight’s concert will encourage you guys to help out.” Chloe motioned to Marissa now. “Can you come up here, Marissa?”

She immediately stood up and began to slowly approach the stage, stopping at the steps. Her dad, realizing her challenge, popped up and helped her up the two steps, and everyone clapped. Then Allie produced a recorder, and Marissa’s eyes lit up.

“Want to play a song with us?” Allie asked.

Marissa nodded somberly as Chloe positioned her between us, explaining to the audience we’d be singing a song that Marissa had just learned. “You start it, Marissa.”

She lifted the recorder to her lips and began to play the old children’s song, and we joined her by quietly singing the lyrics. When we stopped, the room was silent for a few seconds, then to our relief erupted into huge applause, like that had been our best number of the night. Go figure.

“Tonight Marissa is our little star,” said Chloe. “But tomorrow she’ll be back working toward a full recovery. And that requires physical therapists and all kinds of things. Please bless the Phillips family as you leave. Baskets are by the doors.”

“One more song,” yelled someone from the back. Then everyone was clapping again. So with Marissa still on the stage, we did another song, and when it was over, I decided to speak up.

“While everyone is here,” I began, looking directly at Shannon now, “I have a little announcement to make. Some of you may know that Redemption has been looking for a replacement for Laura Mitchell. What you may not know is that earlier this week, they offered the position to me. And tonight I want everyone to know that I’ve decided to accept it.”