Carissa's Law

by Misty Boyd

  “Oh, no,” he exclaimed. “Does this mean no more chocolate chip muffin dates? I really liked those.”

  That made her smile. “Yeah. I guess so. I just can’t imagine doing school and this surgery.”

  “Yeah, I get it. Hey, maybe I could just bring the muffins to you?”

  “Well, that’s fine. You can if you want to.” Her dad would like that, because it would mean Isaac wasn’t giving up.

  “So are we still on for dinner Friday night? I understand if you’re not up for it. No pressure.”

  “Oh, yeah, we’re on. Recovery starts after surgery! I plan to just keep living until then.”

  “Great,” he said, and she felt him grinning. “I’ll see you Friday night.”

  Well, he was still on for dinner. That was good. She just hoped he could handle surgical recovery.

  * * *

  When they got home, Sarah retreated to the kitchen and the small table in the corner. Tears welled up in her eyes. How could she make her little girl lie down for another surgery? Every time she had to hand her daughter over to another surgeon, it broke her again. It made her feel like she had failed as a mom, not to be able to fix these things without putting her little girl through such agony. How could she do this to her again?

  When she saw the tears streaming down Carissa’s face in the doctor’s office, it broke her heart. Carissa was such a strong girl. She had no idea. She’d been through so much in her short life that most people never even had to think about. Sarah knew she’d conquer this surgery, just like she had every other one, but that didn’t change the hurt in her heart at seeing her daughter cry.

  * * *

  Jim was devastated. He wandered into his office, ignoring the files and boxes everywhere. He sank down in his desk chair and buried his head on his arms. He was a fixer, but he couldn’t fix this, for either his daughter or his wife. Both were distraught at the thought of going through another operation and, if he was honest, he wanted to cry right along with them. He hated to see his girls hurt. And he hated not being able to pick up the pieces for them. Why did they have to go through this again? It wasn’t fair, and he felt helpless.

  Chapter 19

  The next week went by about as fast as flowing molasses, but it was finally Friday. Carissa sprang up from her bed, using her arms to bounce over to her chair, her legs following, and rolled down the hall to ask what was for dinner.

  “Hey, Mom! I was just wondering what you had planned for dinner tonight? Isaac is coming over.”

  “Did you think I would forget ‘the boy’ was coming for dinner?” Sarah gave her an indulgent look. “I was planning on chicken Alfredo. Is that okay? Does he like Alfredo? Is he allergic to anything?”

  Carissa thought about it for a moment. “That’s a lot of questions, Mom. I don’t actually know what he likes, or if he’s allergic to anything, but your Alfredo is the best. If he doesn’t like it, he can’t come back!”

  “Okay, honey,” Sarah said. “I’ll stick with the plan, then. Make sure your chores are done before he gets here.”

  “Got it, Mom,” Carissa called over her shoulder, going to her room to clean up and make her bed. Making a bed was the worst chore from a wheelchair. But she managed it, and now she needed a shower.

  That would have to wait, though. The rest of the chores still beckoned. Before she knew it, it was lunch time, and she hadn’t eaten a thing all day. She went to the kitchen to make a sandwich of sliced deli turkey, mayo, avocado, tomatoes, salt and pepper, and cheddar cheese before her last daily duty, loading the dishwasher. As she ate her epicurean delight, her mind drifted to what dinner might be like.

  Had Mom convinced Dad to be nice? She hoped so. Would Isaac be nervous? She was certainly nervous. She hoped it wouldn’t be so bad for him. She hoped her dad didn’t run him off for good.

  Carissa finished her sandwich and decided to do all her medical junk early today. She definitely didn’t want to run Isaac off early or, even worse, leave him alone with her parents for an hour while she did all her personal things. She couldn’t imagine what kind of torture her dad could manage to dish out in an hour of alone time with a boy his daughter liked. She didn’t want to imagine it. She headed off to the bathroom for her pills and her nighttime routine to save Isaac from what, she was sure, would turn into the end of the world. He could not be left alone with her parents. She’d do anything to prevent it.

  After she finished her bedtime routine and shower, it was time to start preparing dinner, so she went to the kitchen to help her mom. Sarah insisted on having a tablecloth for the table, and it was laying on the table waiting to be spread out. She told Carissa to set out the nice china plates and crystal glasses that had belonged to Carissa’s grandmother.

  Carissa collected the silverware, plates and glasses, and placed them on the table. After that, she helped cut up the chicken and season it, and measured out ingredients for the Alfredo sauce.

  “You sure are helpful tonight,” Sarah said with a smile as she put the ingredients into a saucepan.

  “Uh… yeah…” Carissa said, “I dunno. I guess I just want to contribute.”

  “I think you really like this boy, and you have nervous hands,” Sarah replied, stirring the sauce.

  “I do. Do you think Dad will go easy on him?” Carissa asked.

  “Of course not. But, if Isaac’s everything you’ve said he is, I think everything will be fine.”

  “If you say so.” Carissa sounded less than positive.

  “I do say so, but you know your dad loves you and is going to grill every boy that comes in this house until you move out.”

  “I know,” Carissa said, “I just wish…”

  Just about then, Jim sauntered through the door. “Smells great, honey! Chicken Alfredo, my favorite. Are you trying to butter me up for this boy? Take down my guard?”

  “Maybe a little,” Sarah responded.

  “It’s working,” he said, kissing her.

  “You guys are so gross!” Carissa covered her eyes with both hands in mock horror. “Please don’t do that in front of Isaac.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Jim replied.

  “Dad!”

  “Okay, okay.” He gave Carissa a hug. “Maybe.”

  “Ugh.”

  Just then, there was a knock at the door. Carissa started to go answer it, but her dad stopped her.

  “I’ve got this,” he said.

  “Daaaad!” she whined.

  He lifted a hand to silence her. “I’ll be nice.”

  “Nice,” she thought. He might as well bring the shotgun, hounding him at the door first thing. Good grief.

  Chapter 20

  Jim opened the door. “Hello, you must be Isaac,” he said. “I’m Mr. Schultz, Carissa’s dad. Come on in.”

  Isaac stood at the door, hands clasped in front of him. “Yes, sir,” he said. “Nice to meet you, sir.” He held out his hand, and Jim shook it. “I’m Isaac. Thank you for inviting me to dinner.”

  “It’s our pleasure, Isaac,” Jim said, standing aside to let Isaac in and herding him into the living room. “Have a seat. Dinner is just about ready.”

  Isaac sat gingerly on the edge of the couch. “Great. Thank you, Mr. Schultz. I’m starved. Can’t wait!”

  Carissa rolled into the living room.

  “Hey, Carissa,” Isaac said, getting to his feet.

  “Hey!” Sorry about the dinner Nazi, she thought to herself.

  Isaac was dressed nicely in a light blue button-down shirt and khaki pants, with brown dress shoes. He looked very presentable, Carissa thought. Almost too presentable to be eating dinner at her house. Her family usually ate in shorts. Her dad sometimes ate in his bathrobe.

  Today, though, her dad looked pretty formal, and acted that way, too.

  Jim picked up the conversation. “So tell me about yourself, Isaac. Carissa tells me you’re pre-med. What brought that on? Have you always wanted to be a doctor?”

  “Well, yes, sir,” Isaac said,
sitting down on the sofa again. “My mom was injured in an auto accident after I was born. She came out with a spinal cord injury and uses a wheelchair, so medical is kind of all I’ve ever known. I take care of her when her nurses don’t show.”

  Jim looked impressed. “Wow. That’s a lot to take on for an eighteen-year-old boy. Where’s your dad?”

  “What? Where’s his dad?” Carissa thought. “Too personal, Dad. Too personal.” Carissa didn’t even know Isaac’s last name, and her dad was asking him questions like she was about to take it.

  “He hit the road shortly after my mom got hurt,” Isaac answered with a shrug. “He couldn’t handle it, so I don’t really have a dad. But my pastor is always around to help out if I need a man to weigh in on things. He’s kind of taken that role. He’s there if I need him, so my mom and I make out okay.”

  “Well, it’s wonderful that he steps in like that,” Jim said. “Every boy needs a man to look up to.”

  “Yes, sir,” Isaac agreed.

  “Hey, guys, dinner is ready! Jim, why don’t you come help me bring everything to the table?”

  Mom to the rescue!

  “I’m so sorry,” Carissa told Isaac as Jim went to help Sarah. “He’s like this. He’s going to grill you all night. He’s so overprotective. It drives me nuts.”

  “Hey, it’s okay.” Isaac followed Carissa into the dining room. “You’re his daughter. I’d be the same way if some guy was coming around my baby girl. Good men don’t mess around when it comes to their daughters. I don’t blame him a bit. I respect that. He’s not playing, and he wants to know I’m not playing, either. I’m not. Carissa, I really like you and, if this is what it takes to get close to you, I’m in.”

  Wow. Just wow. She had no response. No other guy had ever reacted that way to her dad and his torture. Most, she never heard from again after a night with him. She was really impressed with how Isaac was taking it.

  He helped her get settled at the table, then took the seat next to her.

  “Okay, who wants to pray?” Sarah asked, as she came around the corner with a big bowl of pasta.

  “I’ll do it,” Isaac spoke up. “I mean, if you don’t mind, Mr. Schultz. It’s just, I’m the man at my house, so I’m used to being the one to do it. This is your house, though, so you make the rules, but I’d be honored.”

  “Well, then, go ahead, Isaac. We’d love to have you pray,” Jim responded.

  Carissa couldn’t even breathe. Isaac was taking this all so well, and now he was praying over dinner? Who was he? Muffins? Prayers? Hanging in with Dad? Was he perfect? He couldn’t be, but he sure looked good from where she was sitting.

  Isaac prayed over their meal, and threw a little bit in there for Carissa’s upcoming surgery.

  Sarah started passing food around the table.

  “This is delicious, Mrs. Schultz,” Isaac said after his first bite. “Now I know why Carissa talks about your cooking so much. She’s not wrong to brag on it!”

  “Thank you, Isaac.” Sarah seemed a little surprised by his comment. “I appreciate the compliment.”

  “So, Isaac,” Jim leaned into the table, crossing his hands in front of him and Carissa cringed. “You and your mother live alone? What’s that like? You’re the man there, you say?”

  “Well, yes, sir.” Isaac put his fork down and straightened up in his chair, making solid eye contact with Jim. “Without my dad being around, I’ve had to step up some. My mom needs extra help, more than Carissa. She’s a chair user, too, so when the caregiver doesn’t show, I’m it. It hasn’t been easy, but we manage.” He loaded his fork with more pasta.

  “And what does that look like for Carissa? How do you plan to make time for both her and your mother? Do you have time to devote to a relationship?” Jim shifted in his chair. Carissa wanted to melt underneath the table.

  “Sir, your daughter is very important to me. I’m a man who makes time for what’s important to me. Carissa won’t be neglected. I promise you that.” Isaac didn’t flinch. He seemed unaffected by the frank questioning.

  Jim wasn’t finished. “How are your classes going? Do you get good grades? Carissa is a smart girl. She does well in school and works hard for her grades. I don’t want that to change because a boy came around. This isn’t high school anymore. Her grades dictate her future. A temporary boy doesn’t need to get in the way of that.” He took a long sip of his iced tea.

  “Jim!” Sarah interrupted, dropping her fork against her plate, which made a loud clang.

  “It’s okay, Mrs. Schultz. Mr. Schultz, with all due respect, I don’t date temporarily. I don’t believe in wasting mine or any young woman’s time like that. I don’t know where Carissa and I are going, but my heart is not set on being temporary.”

  Carissa was sure she felt her heart stop beating.

  “So, you plan to marry my daughter?” Jim had stopped eating altogether now.

  “Well, sir, I can’t answer that. What I can say is that I don’t date to play games. She’s special. I’m not wasting her time.” Isaac now had his hands folded in his lap. He wasn’t eating, either.

  “I made cake!” Sarah pushed away from the table and went to the kitchen counter. She came back with a two-layer masterpiece, covered with chocolate frosting and a caramel drizzle.

  “Looks delicious, Mrs. Schultz!” Isaac piped up.

  “Thanks, Mom!” Carissa said, half-thanking her for the cake, half-thanking her for stopping the slaughter.

  They ate, and Isaac and Carissa helped clear the table while Jim and Sarah went into the living room.

  When they finished, Isaac said, “Hey, I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay…”

  * * *

  Isaac went to the living room where he found Mr. and Mrs. Schultz.

  “Mr. Schultz, can I have a moment of your time?” he asked.

  “Sure, Isaac,” Jim said. “What’s up?”

  “Well, see, I really like Carissa, and I respect you as her father. I was wondering if you would allow me to take her to a movie tonight, if she accepts, of course. But I wanted to ask your permission first. I know you only want the best for her, and I’d like a chance to show you I can be that.”

  “Isaac, you’re one of the most outstanding young gentlemen Carissa has brought home,” Jim said. “In fact, you may be the only outstanding gentleman she’s brought home. You can take her to a movie. Have her home immediately after, and respect her while you’re out.”

  “I wouldn’t do anything less, sir,” Isaac promised. “I’ll treat her the way I’d want my mama treated.”

  “Good deal.” Jim beamed at Carissa’s new boy.

  “Mr. Schultz, I’ll have her home immediately after the movie, and she’ll be returned to you just as I found her,” Isaac said.

  “Drive carefully then,” Jim told him. “That’s my precious cargo you have there.”

  “Yes, sir. I understand. “Now, I just have to go see if she even wants to go out with me!”

  “I have a feeling…” Jim replied. “I’ll see you guys later.”

  And with that, Isaac went back in the kitchen to woo the girl.

  Carissa looked up as he came back into the kitchen. “Hey! Where’d you go?”

  “Oh, I was just squaring things up with your dad before I ask you out to a movie tonight.” Isaac grinned. “He’s cool with it, so the only one I have left to convince is you!”

  “You asked my dad?” Carissa was astonished.

  “Yes. You’re his daughter before you’re my anything. I felt it appropriate to ask him.” Isaac strolled over to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Now, are you going to put me through all that for nothing, or are we going out?”

  “Oh, we’re going! You’ve earned it!” Carissa finished up what was left of the dishes, grabbed her purse, and off they went.

  * * *

  “Admit you were wrong to be so hard on the boy, Jim,” Sarah said playfully.

  “I might have been a little harsh…” Jim d
idn’t look even a little sorry.

  “Did you ask my dad for permission to take me on our first date?” Sarah asked. “I don’t recall.”

  Jim glanced at her, smiling. “I’m not sure I did. Can we go back in time?”

  “Nope. You were a scoundrel! No fixing it now,” she teased. “He’s a good guy, Jim. I like this one.”

  “I think I do, too.”

  Chapter 21

  In the car, the conversation went smoothly. “I like your parents. They really love you. They don’t play around with your heart or your safety, and I won’t either.” Isaac glanced over at her. “Put your seatbelt on. I want to bring you back to your daddy exactly like I found you.”

  “Okay. Hey, you know what? It just occurred to me that I’m going on a date with a boy, and I don’t even know his last name,” Carissa stated. “How irresponsible is that? Sir, I’m going to need to know your last name before this car moves an inch!”

  “Why? You thinking of stealing it? Haha!” Then he said seriously, “It’s Carter. Isaac Carter. I took my mama’s last name when I got old enough. She raised me. She should share a name with me.”

  “Isaac Carter.” Carissa smiled. “I like it. We can go now.”

  “Well, then, ma’am,” Isaac laughed, “I’m glad we got that out of the way.”

  When they arrived at the theater, they approached the ticket counter. “Two for the new Star Wars, please,” Isaac requested.

  “Caregivers are free for the disabled. You don’t have to pay, sir,” said the attendant.

  “I’m her boyfriend.” Isaac told the attendant, and Carissa wondered how he had read her mind. “I need to pay.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry. I just assumed…” The attendant looked uncomfortable.

  “Everybody does.” Carissa answered her, with just enough sass in her voice to let the woman know she was not okay with it.

  They took their tickets and headed toward the concession stand, where Isaac decided he wanted to get a popcorn and soda to share, after making sure that was okay with Carissa. “I can get you your own. I don’t mind.”