Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

Jade lifted one shoulder. "I don't know That way, whenever we're thinking about her or wondering how
old she'd be, we can talk about it together. Alone. Besides, when you miscarry, most people don't think of
it as losing a child. We're the only ones who miss her."
Tanner's heart swelled. How good God was to give him Jade, this woman who cared so deeply and loved
him so much. "Okay. Jenna's our secret."
Jade tapped her fingers on her stomach. "I'm kinda tired. Can we talk about this one tomorrow?"
Tomorrow. A shadow fell over the moment. "You have an appointment at the hospital tomorrow,
remember?"
Peace masked jade's face. Peace and acceptance. "Yes, to check the tumor growth."
Tanner pictured jade sliding slowly, steadily, through the MRI tube, motionless and pale under the
fluorescent hospital lights, her pregnant belly protruding through the hospital sheets, a stark contrast of life
in the shadows of death.
"I hate those tests."
"It'll be okay. The tumor hasn't grown; I'd know if it had." Jade's face lit up. "Besides, if we use the
waiting time to talk about names, I won't be so nervous."
"Okay" He relaxed some. "Sounds like a plan."
They were quiet a moment; then jade leaned against him again. "Did you ever love someone so much it
hurt?"
Tanner cradled her body against his and closed his eyes. Again he longed to stay that way, holding her,
breathing the same air. "Yes, Jade, I've loved someone that much... Every day; every hour. Every minute."
ade-and Tanner arrived at the hospital at nine the next morning and were ushered into a private waiting
room. Everything
about the place was familiar since the facility was adjacent to the children's hospital where jade had
worked these past years.
The test was not particularly grueling-there were no strange liquids to drink or painful positions to
maintain-but Jade felt as uneasy about it as Tanner.
Lying on a flat tray, being moved through the white cylinder one inch at a time and then back through it
again set her nerves
on edge. Only by praying anHannah and jenny, and anyone
for Matt tt and unborn daughter,
else that came to mind-was she able to keep her thoughts from
the place where they were tempted to be. On the fact that her brain was being
ourgse of examined by life. microscopic en
rays that would determine whether she would live at all.
Ty was staying at his friend's house, which meant jade and Tanner could spend most of
for an ultrasound and appointments the MRI, jade was scheduled with both Dr. Layton and her
obstetrician,
b baby's birth would come was working together to make at a time when jade's brain tumor seemed
stable.
The day was bound to wear on her, so jade the car, theallowed
y held Tanner to bring the wheelchair. Before they left
hands and prayed about the hours her ahead.
from Nhwwhthat eelcheair in the waiting room, Tanner eased
vinyl sofa next to him.
228 She eyed the chair and tried not to hate it. It represented such failure and desperation, such proof of
her illness. It's temporary, she told herself. Then she turned to Tanner. "Okay, I guess it's time." "Time?"
Tanner's blank expression made her laugh.