What Matters Most by Melody Carlson Page B

if I hadn’t chosen her, I wouldn’t have you, now would I?”
    “I guess not.”
    “Here’s what I think, sweetie. In regard to Shannon, just let her do her thing. It’ll either fly or flop…and you know which scenario I’m putting my money on.”
    “So I shouldn’t warn Marissa’s dad or anything?”
    “He’s a cop. I bet he’ll figure it out.”
    “But what about Marissa?”
    “What’s the worst thing Shannon can do in regard to Marissa?”
    I considered this. Despite having no mothering skills whatsoever, Shannon wouldn’t hurt anyone. Not intentionally. “She might neglect her.”
    “Hmm…”
    “Maybe I should just give Adam a little heads-up,” I said, “for Marissa’s sake.”
    “Yes. You’re probably right. For Marissa’s sake.”
    We talked awhile longer, but I could tell he was tired, and it was really late over there. “Thanks for listening,” I finally told him.
    “Let me know how it goes.”
    “I’ll e-mail you.”
    “Love you, sweetie!”
    “Love you, Dad.”
    Then we hung up, and I prayed about the situation with Shannon and Marissa. I asked God to guide me and, if I need to say something to Marissa’s dad, to show me how to do it without totally insulting my mother.
October 23
    The audition is over—what a relief. And although Bruce Glass, the manager, seemed to like me and told me I was good, I don’t think he was that impressed, and I don’t think he’s going to want me to replace Laura in the band.
    “Thanks for playing for me,” he said when we finished. “You have real talent. Chloe told me that your dad is Nick Stark.”
    I nodded as I unhooked my guitar strap.
    “Your style is similar to his, but different.”
    I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not. I just nodded and smiled. “Thanks for listening to me.”
    “We’ll let you know our decision in a day or two.”
    I thanked him again and began gathering up my stuff.
    “You were great,” Chloe told me as I put my guitar away.
    Allie grinned. “Yeah, I think Bruce likes you.”
    “But he still wants us to play with the other two girls that he’s interested in,” admitted Chloe. “That’s probably why he’s not saying much…yet.”
    “It’s okay,” I told them. “I understand. And I’m sure he’s got a lot to think about.”
    But as I drove home and as I sit here tonight just thinking over this whole thing, I suddenly kind of want it. And that surprises me. To be honest, it might be that I want to escape Shannon. Or maybe avoid the calamity that I know she’ll probably bring into Adam’s and Marissa’s lives. Or maybe I really do just want it. But the more I think I want it, the more convinced I am that it’s not going to happen. And so I will simply pray about it. My prayer is that if this is God’s will, He will open the door wide. And that if it’s not His will, which seems most likely, He will slam the door shut and lock it tight. And having prayed this prayer, I know I can sleep easy tonight. God is in control.
October 27
    It was just a regular Monday morning, and I was about to head out to my car to go to school, thinking how cool it is to have a normal life, when I saw Allie and Chloe at my door—and they had flowers and balloons in their hands.
    “Hey, did someone just win the lottery?” I asked.
    “Something like that.” Allie laughed.
    “Bruce wants you in the band!” Chloe thrust the roses at me and then hugged me. Allie hugged me too. And they bothseemed so genuinely happy that I actually started to cry. How weird is that?
    “Really?” I sputtered. “I’m in the band?”
    “If you want to be.”
    Now I considered this. I remembered my prayer about opened or closed doors, and I wondered if this really was God’s work.
    “Bruce suggested that you take a few days to think and pray about it,” said Chloe, “to be really sure.”
    “And he’ll bring a contract by.” Allie frowned. “You’ll need a parent or someone to sign it.”
    Now I