Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

She pointed to her belly "Time to figure out a name for little
Miss Eastman here."
A knowing look filled Tanner's eyes and he slipped his arm
around her. "Oh, that. Right."
For the next half hour they talked about a dozen different
names, but finally they settled on Madison. Jade remembered that
she had jokingly promised to name her daughter after Brandy
Almond, her teenage patient at the children's hospital. But Brandy
would understand. Besides, Madison was the name of Tanner's
grandmother, a woman who had been rock-solid in her faith and
drove Tanner to church long after his own parents stopped attending.
Years after her death, her favorite Scriptures played in
Tanner's mind and often helped shape the strength of his views.
"Besides that, she was beautiful."
"Of course." Jade smiled and traced her finger along Tanner's
cheekbone. "She was related to you, wasn't she?"
"So, you like it?"
"I like it a lot. I only wish I'd known your grandmother."
Tanner kissed the tip of her nose. "She would have loved
you."
Jade leaned her head back and stared at an aquarium in the
corner of the waiting room. She pictured heaven and having the
chance to meet the elderly Madison Eastman, and Jenna, and
Hannah's Tom and Alicia. Calm reigned in her soul, and her heart
felt full to bursting. "Sometimes I can't wait to get to heaven." A
smile played on her lips. "All of us and Jenna. Together forever..."
Concern flashed in Tanner's eyes. "Don't say that, jade, please."
226
"I'm not ready to go today." She eased his face nearer and kissed his cheek. "Sorry."
She could feel the muscles in Tanner's arms relax. "It'll be great-in another sixty years or so."
jade smiled. "Madison what? What's her middle name?" "Well..." Tanner's eyes twinkled. "Let's make her
middle name after this woman I know who loves God and would go any distance to take a stand for her
beliefs. If I could only remember her name..." He stroked his chin and stared at the ceiling as though he
were trying to conjure up the woman's memory. "Hmmm. She's gorgeous beyond words, dark hair and
eyes as green as Chesapeake Bay..."
jade rolled her eyes and giggled. "Gorgeous?"
A mock indignation filled Tanner's expression and he flashed her a sharp look. "Absolutely!" He returned
his gaze to the ceiling and then suddenly snapped his fingers and stared at her. "I remember, now. jade.
Her name is jade Eastman."
She laughed harder. "You're crazy"
Tanner pointed at himself and mouthed the word, "Me?" "Yes, you." Her laughter faded. "Come on,
Tanner. I'm serious. She needs a middle name."
"I am serious." He took her hands in his and studied her eyes. When he spoke again, his voice was softer,
more serious. "Madison Jade Eastman. I love it."
Lately it seemed jade was constantly discovering new depths to the love she and Tanner had for each
other. This was one of those times. "You really mean it?"
"Yes." He leaned in and kissed her lips, in a way that took her breath. He drew back only an inch or so,