Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

Her question made his knees weak, and though he never
would have dreamed it possible, the feelings he held for her were
stronger than they'd been that summer in Kelso, the summer they
first fell in love. Stronger than they'd ever been before. He kissed
the tip of her finger. "You don't have to tell me."
"Yes, I do." Her eyes glistened. "I never asked you to walk
away from the office, but here you are. The past two weeks I've
hardly thought about being sick."
"Good." "Remember that night at church, when I told you I thought I might die before morning?"
A lump formed in Tanner's stomach. "Too well."
"I never feel like that anymore." She laid her head on his chest
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H A L F W A Y T O F 0 R E V E R
rd sighed out loud, the same way she did when she eased herelf into a hot bath. As though being beside
him was the greatest feeling in the world. "It was my fault you kept your distance
before. I should have told you how I felt."
"I should have asked."
"It's over; we both learned something." She took his hand and set it on her pregnant belly "Can you
believe she'll be here in a week?"
The lump in Tanner's gut twisted into a knot. "Thirty-two weeks. How early is that?"
She sat up a bit, staring at her swollen abdomen. "It's early, but her lungs should be developed. It could
take a month before she can go home, but maybe not. It depends on her weight."
Tanner ran his hand over her stomach and hesitated. As he did, the baby pushed against his palm. "Ohhh.
So you're a fighter, little girl." He grinned at jade and pretended to whisper, "Just like her mother."
A dreamy look filled jade's expression. "I feel like you're closer to her lately."
"Yeah-" Tanner moved his hand and the baby kicked him again-"Me, too."
They watched the baby moving beneath her maternity shirt and laughed. "She's rowdy tonight."
Tanner's heart was filled with awe. "It's all so amazing. How could anyone question whether God created
life?"
"Especially when you know what's happening inside me, how a real person is being knit together. It's the
most beautiful miracle of all."
Sorrow streaked the moment. "I wish I'd been there when Ty was born. All the time I missed... it still kills
me."
Jade shifted onto her side and wrapped her arms around Tanner's waist. "You've more than made up for
it." She hesitated.
223 "If something happens to me, I know you'd be okay. The three of
you.
11
Tanner's back stiffened. "Don't say that."
"I'm sorry." Jade was quiet. "I just want you to know I trust
you, Tanner. You're a wonderful dad. With or without me."
"You aren't going anywhere. God and I already talked about it." "I know But just if...if God takes me
home, you and the kids will be fine. You're wonderful with Ty and you'll be amazing with our daughter."
"Daughter..." Tanner let the word dangle in the air like a delicate
wind chime. "Are we ever going to name her?"
"Last time we talked about it you wanted to wait. At least until
we got this far."