Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

was too painful. Besides, other families could take in hurting children. She wondered if perhaps she had
only agreed to adopt in an attempt to recreate what she'd lost that awful day four years ago. Not that she
could ever replace Alicia, but maybe she could re-create the busy family atmosphere that had marked her
life before the accident. Hannah had desperately missed that.
Grace's presence had restored a sense of that, but not really. She was so mistrusting at first, so delicate.
They had only just begun to feel like a real family, to sense the balance and laughter and safety a family
represents, when she was taken away.
But now, since the moment Mrs. Parsons brought Kody Matthew home, everything about their home
seemed different,
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warmer. More focused on love and life and faith.
Hannah spent hours pondering the change Kody had brought
to their family, and she figured it was because jenny was practically
grown up and gone. Before adopting, their family hadn't
spent great amounts of time together. Rather Hannah and Matt
lived like newlyweds, learning what it was to share a bathroom
and a bedroom and a kitchen.
Jenny was a part of it all, of course. But she was gone much of
the time, busy with friends and football games and study groups
at school. Now Jenny made a point of being home. She and
Hannah and Matt spent most evenings circled around the living
room, cuddling with each other and taking turns holding Kody.
They talked more and laughed more and somehow, in the process, they loved more.
The sum of it made Hannah's heart swell, and on Sunday, at
the end of the first whole week with Kody, she stood at the front
door and told Matt as much. The next day would be the first in
the trial against the Benson City Council, and he had plans to be
there most of the week.
It was six-thirty and upstairs Kody and Jenny were still asleep.
Hannah rose up on her tiptoes and circled her arms around Matt's
neck. "Be careful." It wasn't something she used to think about,
but after losing Tom and Alicia; and after that fateful day last
September, it was impossible not to. Yes, there were more security
measures in place, but there were also more angry terrorists. Not
that fear had kept them from flying, but Hannah made a point of
telling Matt how she loved him before he left for an airport.
Just in case she never got another chance.
He smiled at her and brushed back her bangs with his fingertips.
"I will." He kissed her. "Take care of Kody. He'll probably cry
more with me gone."
Hannah giggled. "He might need therapy when he's older."
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"Actually." Matt pretended to look hurt. "I think you're right.
He's very bonded with me."
They both laughed, and Hannah straightened the collar on tus
suit coat. "Knock 'em dead, will ya? Tanner could use something positive right now."
Matt's eyes narrowed. "I care about every case. Pray about it, search the Bible for help." He shook his