Read Online What Matters Most by Melody Carlson - Free Book Online

know that sounds harsh—today I spoke to Marissa’s dad, and after what he told me about his ex-wife (Marissa’s mother), I really wanted to strangle that woman. What is wrong with some grownups? Why do they think it’s okay to have children and then just abandon them? Because that is what Marissa’s mom has done with her. Oh, it started a long time ago, and I suspect it has a lot to do with why Marissa has been so rebellious, although I used to think that had more to do with a cop dad who might’ve been overly strict. But now that I know him better and after some things Marissa told me before the accident, I think the missing mom is more to blame. But anyway, when it comes to winning the award for having the world’s worst mother, Marissa and I might be tied. Or maybe she would win.
    Because despite Shannon’s faults, I think it’s possible that if I were in a serious accident and needed her help, well, she might just be there for me. Or not. It’s a hard call. And I have no plans to try it out to see.
    But when Marissa’s dad asked his ex if she could help with Marissa’s recovery, since the doctor might release her from the hospital by the end of the week and thinks a home environment would be good for her, Marissa’s mom said, “No way.”
    “I’m not that surprised she turned me down,” Marissa’s dad confided to me after I’d said good-bye to Marissa this evening. “But I’m just not sure what to do now. I can’t afford to hire an in-home nurse, and my insurance won’t cover it.” He shook his head. “It’s amazing all the things that insurance
doesn’t
cover.”
    “That’s got to be hard.” I know for a fact that his finances have been a mess since the accident. The police force passed the hat around, and our church did a special collection for them, but I suspect those funds barely dented their bill pile.
    “I think my only option is to put Marissa in a nursing home.”
    “A nursing home? Aren’t those for old people?”
    He nodded. “For the most part. But it’s the best we can do in our town. And I don’t like the idea of her being a hundred miles away.”
    “Oh…” I could tell he was bummed by this too, and I didn’t want to make him feel worse. “But if she continues to recover,well, maybe she wouldn’t be there for long. And I’ll bet that old people would enjoy having her around.”
    He brightened a little. “Let’s hope so.”
    “And I’ll keep visiting her, and I know others will too.” Okay, even as I said this, I wasn’t so sure. It seemed that it had only been Chloe and me visiting her this past week. Allie confessed that the whole hospital scene makes her want to climb the walls. And Eddie, still recovering from his own injury and guilty conscience since he was the drunk driver on the night of the accident, seems to have faded into the woodwork.
    Marissa’s dad nodded. “I really appreciate that, Maya. You kids have no idea what a comfort that is to me. Visits from her friends seem to be the best medicine my girl gets these days.”
    So my plan is to challenge our youth group on Saturday night. I’m going to bring a sign-up sheet and see if I can get anyone to commit to regularly visiting Marissa in the nursing home, hopefully spread out through the week. And maybe I can even come up with some ideas for them—ways to engage Marissa in conversations and help with her recovery.
October 10
    Tonight was open mike again, and this time, after several fun jam sessions this past week, Chloe, Allie, Dominic, and I decided to debut a couple of Chloe’s newest songs. And once again the response was pretty cool.
    “Is this the new Redemption?” Mike asked us after closing time as we were putting our equipment away.
    “I was just thinking the same thing,” said Willy Johnson. That’s Allie’s stepdad, and he used to manage their band. “It’s a different sound, but it’s not bad.”
    “Not bad?” said Jill from behind the counter where she was cleaning