Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

m. "Jenny told us she's beautiful. Looks just like jade."
Tanner nodded and shifted to hug Matt as well. "They're both fine." The smile remained, but from this
close, Hannah could see the concern in his eyes. "Jade's tired. Ever since the baby was born, all she
wants to do is sleep."
"That's normal." Hannah squeezed Tanner's hand. "Having babies is hard work."
Tanner relaxed a bit. "She got through the surgery without any seizures. The doctors were worried about
that "
"Fantastic." Matt looked at Hannah and winked. "Looks like October 7 will be a day we'll all remember."
Tanner looked from Hannah to Matt and finally to Jenny. He grinned at her as he elbowed Matt. "What're
your parents up to now?"
Jenny ran her fingers through her bangs and shook her head. "You'll have to ask them about this one."
Hannah giggled. She knew how overwhelmed Jenny must feel. The day had been nothing but a series of
life-changing announcements. The sum of them was draining, and she and Matt still had to set up a nursery.
"I give up." Tanner scratched his head. "Someone tell me what's going on."
"Okay." Matt tried to hide his smile. "Hannah and I are going to be parents."
Tanner studied Matt's face. "Seriously?"
"Seriously. The social worker called this morning. She has a healthy baby boy for us. Six weeks old. His
name is Kody
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Matthew, and she's bringing him home tonight." Matt tousled Jenny's hair. "So-" he checked his watch-"in
six hours, Jennys going to have a baby brother."
Tanner raised a fist in the air and hooted out loud. "Is God
good or what? That's awesome." He hugged the three of them, and
then he took Matt's shoulder and looked him straight in the face.
"We can draw up the papers next week."
Now it was Matt's turn to be confused. "Papers?"
Tanner tried to look indignant. "Of course, papers. Madison
Jade will need a fine upstanding husband one day, right?"
"And...?" Clearly Matt didn't see the connection, but Hannah
did and she laughed out loud.
Tanner anchored his hands on his hips. "If we're going to
arrange the marriage now we'd better draw up papers next week.
That way there'll be no question about it. No dating until she's
twenty-two and out of college, at which point she will be free to
marry Mr. Kody Matthew Bronzan. Sounds good to me."
They all laughed, and Hannah was glad to see Tanner so
happy When the laughter died, she asked about jade. "Should we
wait and see her tomorrow?'
"I think she'd like that." The teasing left Tanner's eyes and his
face was filled with gratitude. "I'll tell her you were here. It'll mean
the world to her."
They said good-bye and made plans for jenny to meet them
at home early that afternoon, before the baby arrived. A neighbor
friend of jade's would take over with Ty at the hospital and watch