Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

Tanner poked Ty in the ribs and gave him a partial grin. "It
won't happen unless we take this show down to the hospital."
The three of them formed a circle, jade still sitting on the bed. Tanner drew a steadying breath and began
to speak. "Lord, this is it, the day we've been waiting for. Father, You know all things, even down to the
timing of Madison's birth." He paused, and jade could hear the concern in his voice. "Please, God, keep
Your hand
250
H A L r w A Y
Jade and Maddie. Help them d brin through
both home soon.
althy and strong, and please, Lo , g e trust You...we thank You ahead of tim
ill rizon e." gathered
The sun was just peekm a°-bovA Tanner didrft
to b tal by seven o'clock, and Jae knew n them nths s rice
In the myriad of emotions they'd experienced
I once again.
Jade's diagnosis, they'd odone a n thatr at first the news of andy's death
There was no quests
set jade back, set her and Tanner both back. k scriptures pulled her of deep prayer, times when only
clinging
through, she had somehow
axious emerged ~buhthis time he shared his Tanner was the
feelings with her. Even last night, hours of behis fore ethey would leave for the hospital, he admitted the
depth o she one silntly
They'd been in bed, and Jade was quiet, praying
tossed fell asleep. Next to her, Tanner was a study mo lie
and turned from his left side to his right and
back in histrdirection. Jade leaned up on one elbow and whispered
"What's wrong, Tanner? Talk to me."
He rolled onto his back and an anx~ keep you
on his bare chest. "Talk to me. Whats She laid her head down
on your heart?"
For the first time in an hour, Tannerwa~anedHe pounded want gab fist into the mattress between them and
g
the alarm clock and smash it against the wall. Every time the hands move, i feel that much closer to
tomorrowjade touched his face. ,Is that a bad thing." She
not to sound condescending or unnaturally optimistic. "Our
baby's going to be born tomorrow."
"But there are risks, jade. You and 1 both know it." His body 251
255 K I N G S B U R Y
relaxed beside her. "Assuming you get through the delivery okay, there's the baby to worry about. She's
still so small."
"I know."
"And then we'll have maybe a day before they assault your
body with the worst kind of chemicals known to man. The
thought of it kills me, jade. It kills me."
She leaned over and kissed him, silencing his fears and