Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

It wasn't until they were back in the house that jenny turned to them, her eyes intent, serious. "I know what
Grace's grandmother meant, and I understand your prayer, Matt." She looked at Hannah. "But I want you to
know something. You can bring another little girl into this house and raise her. But that's the Iasi time I let
myself fall in love with a sister." Fresh tears fell from her eyes. "Losing one sister was hard enough.
Now..." She shook her
171 head. "I'm sorry, I...I won't do it again. Not unless God answers my questions."
Hannah and Matt watched her go; then they came together,
embracing each other like two children who'd long since lost their
way and had no idea where to turn next.
Though the song they'd sung minutes earlier still rang in
Hannah's heart, though she knew God's promises were true and
that somehow they'd survive, she couldn't help but ask herself the
same question that had to be troubling jenny
Why, after all they'd been through, had God let such loss happen
again?
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IXtcal
anner was gone. Again.
He would have a good excuse. He always did. Over the past few weeks he'd given her dozens of excuses,
but the
bottom line jade knew was this: If she was dying of cancer, he didn't want to be around to see it happen.
The whole thing was too much for him; the wasting away of her energy and health and even her life was
too difficult to watch. And so he had tuned out in every way that mattered.
Emotionally, spiritually, and most of all physically.
He hadn't meant to hurt her; Jade believed that with all her heart. But it hurt all the same, there was no
denying the fact. His absence had pockmarked jade's heart with a loneliness and sorrow she hadn't
imagined possible.
After taking the trip to Colorado, Tanner had made a brief effort to spend more time with her. But now
jade hardly ever saw him. She was lonely and afraid and she ached for him whenever she was awake.
She missed him more than at any other time in her life, even the years when they'd been apart.
His absence was putting a distance between them that scared her and left her with no one to talk to, no
place to vent her fears. During their few minutes together, jade refused to share her true feelings with him.
If fear was what kept him away, she was determined not to give him more reason to be gone.
Especially now, when she needed him so badly
Because the truth, regardless of what she wanted to tell Tanner, was obvious: The medication was
changing her.
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K A R E N K i N G S B U R Y
She began to notice the changes two days after the second seizure, when Dr. Layton increased her dosage
and assigned her Helen, a full-time home nurse.
Jade was more tired than she imagined possible, and no
amount of sleep made her feel better. Though her brain might
intend to spew out three quick sentences, her mouth would only
respond with one. One very slow, very deliberate string of words
that sounded monotone and robotic, even to Jade. About the
same time walking became difficult. Every step required thought
and planning, and so her pace was half her usual quick-footed