Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

hesitated. "The longer she stays in a coma, the more likely she'll have some memory loss or personality
changes."
"Personality changes?" Ty looked up at Tanner, his eyes wide with new concern. "What's that mean,
Dad?"
Tanner narrowed his eyes and tried to keep from collapsing. He was riding the wildest roller coaster of
his life. After hitting the highest high in the past six months, he was right back where he'd
322 been all that morning. Begging God to heal his wife and bring her back to him, where she belonged.
Where she had always belonged.
"Well..." Tanner tightened his grip on Ty and spoke with as
much strength as he could muster. "It means we keep praying,
son. We just keep on praying."
320
A eight o'clock that night in the hospital waiting room, t
Matt was talking in quiet whispers with Pastor Steve when his cell phone rang. He cringed, realizing he'd
forgotten to turn it off when he arrived at the hospital. He snatched it up and headed for the door,
shrugging when Hannah cast him a curious glance. He stepped outside and took the call.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Bronzan?"
The connection wasn't very strong, and Matt plugged his other ear so he could hear the woman. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry to call you so late, but Edna Parsons gave me your number." The woman hesitated. "This is
Patsy Landers, Grace's grandmother."
Matt's heart skipped a beat. "Uh...hello, Mrs. Landers." Matt ached at the sound of Grace's name. He still
missed her more than he talked about, more than he admitted even to himself. "How is she?"
"Well..." The woman's tone grew higher-pitched, as though she were upset. "She's been having some
trouble."
Matt closed his eyes, overcome with sorrow. If only there were a way to hold Grace right here, right now,
he would rock her and soothe away the pain. Whatever had caused it. "Is she okay?"
"She's healthy, if that's what you mean. But she's... she's not happy, and I think I finally understand why."
Confusion rang through Matt's mind. Why was she calling him about Grace? The child was no longer a
part of their lives. It
323 killed him to think of her troubled or sad, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Nothing at all.
Matt inhaled, waiting until his lungs were full before speaking. "Mrs. Landers, if you'll excuse me, I'm not
sure I understand
why you're calling."
"Because..." The woman on the other end was quiet for a
moment. "Because I have an idea and...well...l'd like to share it
with you."
"Yes..." An idea? About Grace's happiness? Her future? Matt's
heart began to pound. "I'd like to hear it."
The days blended one into the other, and still Jade remained in a coma.
Whenever he met with Tanner, Dr. Layton's voice was somber
and he frowned often. Clearly the man was discouraged, though
Tanner thought he tried to hide the fact. Either way there was no
dancing around the obvious. Every hour, every day that passed,
the chances of Jade making a full recovery grew more and more
slim.