Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

There were a dozen things jade was desperate to bring before
the Lord-her health, her baby's chances of survival. Her life. But
before she left that night, jade uttered the only plea that really
mattered.
God, bring Tanner back to me. Please. Before it's too late.
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here was no point trying to concentrate.
Tanner planted his elbows in the open file on his desk and pressed his fingers against his tired, aching
eyes. How
could he work, when all he could think about was jade, the hurt in her voice as they'd talked...?
He gave a hoarse laugh. Talked? Who was he kidding? They hadn't talked in days, not really
His late hours were frustrating her; that much was clear. But what was he supposed to do? The case
needed him. Desperately. Every hour at work meant a greater chance for success at the trial. Victory
wouldn't come unless he stayed devoted.
Right?
Tanner tapped his pencil on his desk as a dagger of guilt sliced
through his heart. The arguments he had created to justify his
time away from jade suddenly collapsed like a house of cards. He
covered his face with his hands and tried to settle his nerves. What
is it, God? What's wrong with me? My wife's home dying, and I'm here
at work.
He peered through the spaces in his fingers, and his gaze settled on a plaque near the edge of his desk.
Jade had given it to him on the one-year anniversary of his helping her win back custody of Ty. A
Scripture that was one of their favorites was carved in the middle...
Be still and know that I am God.
The words played again and again in Tanner's mind, but they seemed to have no relevance to any of the
troubles burying him
186 Ali;
I'
K A R E N K I N G S B U R Y
at the moment. He let his hands fall to the desk and stared at the outline for what could be his biggest case
yet.
Tanner's research had been exhaustive. He had reams of information
he could hardly wait to share with a jury. He imagined
their reaction when he revealed his favorite little-known facts. He
glanced at his notes. For instance, separation of church and state,
the idea most people attributed to the Constitution, was actually
not in the Constitution at all.
The First Amendment said only this: "Congress shall make no
law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof."
His eyes moved down the page.
The idea of separation of church and state came from a letter
Thomas Jefferson wrote to a group of Baptists, assuring them that
no act of government would infringe on their right to believe.
Why? According to Jefferson's letter, because that clause in the
Constitution provided a wall separating church and state.