Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

"It made Brian stop." Hannah wasn't being argumentative. She
only wanted Matt to know how important his role was in seeing
Brian sent to prison for what he did. Yes, she forgave him. But
after numerous drunk driving accidents and convictions, after
killing two people, Brian belonged in prison.
It was the only way he wouldn't kill again.
"For now" Matt shrugged. "But Brian won't serve his whole
term. And then we'd better pray he finds healing from his alcoholism.
Otherwise, it could happen again. You and I both know
that."
Hannah didn't respond. The thought of Brian Wesley back on
the street, possibly drinking and driving again, was too depressing
to imagine. She waited for Matt to continue.
"I'd like to invest my time where I could shape American law,
set precedent for generations to come. Cases that would preserve
freedoms for millions of Americans."
Hannah remembered her heart swelling with pride as Matt
shared his hopes with her that evening. Their conversation shifted
to his basketball days in college and she found herself wishing
she'd known him then.
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H A L F W A Y T O F 0 R E V E R
"If you played with as much passion as you practice law, you
must have been very good." She smiled up at him. The sky was growing darker and without saying a word
they shifted direction and headed back to Hannah's house.
Once inside, Hannah made coffee, and they continued their conversation over a board game Matt had
given her. He was winning handily when he tapped her foot under the table and flashed her his cards,
alerting her to the fact that he'd been cheating.
"Matt Bronzan!" Hannah's laughter rang like wind chimes in springtime. "Here I thought you were a man
of honor."
"Well, let's see..." He looked at the ceiling, pretending to be deep in thought while he calculated
something. "You've beaten me the last five games. I'd say even men of honor have to resort to drastic
measures now and then."
But as he finished his sentence, his elbow bumped the playing board, messing up the meticulously placed
chips and putting an immediate end to the contest. "Aha!" Hannah snatched his cards from his hand.
`Justice, again!"
In his attempt to grab the cards back, Matt missed and took hold of her hand instead. The air between them
changed, and their eyes locked. Both their smiles faded. Time ceased to exist as they stayed that way, his
hand clutching hers, while they searched each other's eyes and tried to think of something to say.
He made the first move. Clearing his throat, Matt removed his hand, took hold of his coffee mug, and
finished what was left of his drink. "I should be going."
Hannah was confused as much by his reaction as her own. Why was he upset with himself for holding her
hand? Didn't he have feelings for her? And what was this sudden ache in her heart? It was only eighteen
months since losing Tom... Had she been so quick to fall in love with another man?
She had no answers as she followed Matt to the front door.
148 Though she planned to merely thank him for a fun day and bid
him good-bye, she couldn't stop herself from asking the question. The one that burned stronger in her with