Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

appearing bored.
Each night back at his hotel room, Matt would call Hannah and give her the report. "You can't believe
how well it's going." His heart soared with the way the case was progressing. "There were a dozen
newspapers there today, and tomorrow we're expecting at least one national news show."
"That's wonderful."
"Usually they'd be coming to watch us lose, to witness another church group take a fall. But this time
they're on our side. Can you believe it? We're not defending religion this time around; we're defending
America. The word's getting out, and everyone wants a piece of the story."
He could hear Hannah clap her hands in the background. "Oh, Matt, it's just like Tanner dreamed it would
be."
"Have you told him?"
"Every day when I go to the hospital." Her tone grew more somber. "I think it's helping him get through the
week."
Matt leaned back on his hotel pillow and kicked his feet up. "You must have everyone we know praying."
296 The trial wrapped up late Thursday and deliberations began Friday morning. One of the jurors wore a
T-shirt that bore the American flag and the words, "United We Stand." Matt took it as a good sign.
The judge informed the jury that First Church of the Valley
was seeking fifty thousand dollars punitive damages, but that it
was up to the jury to decide the actual amount-higher or lower.
Tanner had called Matt the night before after seeing a segment about the case on the evening's national
news. "Hey I heard the highlights of your closing arguments on CBS." Tanner sounded tired, but there was
no denying his enthusiasm. "You're brilliant, buddy. I could never have pulled it off so well."
"That's where you're wrong." Matt grinned into the phone.
"I'm only imitating everything I've ever seen or heard from you."
Matt hesitated, his voice softer. "Hey, how's jade?"
Tanner paused and Matt figured he was struggling to speak.
"She's... she's very sick, Matt. The treatment is tearing her up.
Hurry home, will ya?"
"You tell her to hang in there. I'll be there the minute I'm
done."
Throughout deliberations, Matt interviewed with thirteen
local and national news anchors and a handful of print reporters.
He answered questions about expectations and the Constitution
and national freedom, but he refrained from predicting a certain
victory. His experience had been that no matter how sure the win,
the jury should break the news first.
Finally, at just after four o'clock, the jury foreman notified the
court clerk that they'd reached a decision. Matt was almost always
anxious at this point in a trial. Bird-sized butterflies would attack
his gut the same way they'd done before every basketball game he
ever played in. This time, though, the butterflies were still.
294
In their place was the familiar calm that had comforted him
all week. Matt knew it was because people were praying: Hannah and Tanner and the staff at the firm.
Even jade, sicker than she'd ever been, had sought God's divine help for this trial. And only God could
have pulled off the type of trial and the accompanying
media interest that had taken place that week.