ALSO BY RICHARD PAUL EVANS
The Walk
Promise Me
The Christmas List
Grace
The Gift
Finding Noel
The Sunflower
A Perfect Day
The Last Promise
The Christmas Box Miracle
The Carousel
The Looking Glass
The Locket
The Letter
Timepiece
The Christmas Box
For Children
The Dance
The Christmas Candle
The Spyglass
The Tower
The Light of Christmas
Simon & Schuster
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and
incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or
are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events
or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Richard Paul Evans
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First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition April 2011
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Designed by Davina Mock-Maniscalco
Manufactured in the United States of America
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
Library of Congress Control Number 2011 006 336
ISBN 978-1-4391-9137-8
ISBN 978-1-4391-9147-7 (ebook)
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” from the book,
The Poetry of Robert Frost
, edited by Edward Connery Lathem.
Copyright 1923, 1969 by Henry Holt and Company.
Copyright 1951 by Robert Frost. Reprinted by permission of
Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
I
thank the following for their assistance on this book: My daughter Jenna, for her wisdom, editorial advice and endurance on the road. It was Jenna’s idea on where to end this story. I’m proud of you, honey.
Laurie Liss, just for being you. Dr. Steve Schlozman for helping me at such a difficult time. Jonathan Karp, for your enthusiasm for this series. Gypsy da Silva, Karen Thompson and Amanda Murray, for editorial advice. Liz Peterson and Chris Evans—for helping us find our way around Spokane. Kailamai Hansen. Kelly Glad, thanks for always being ready with an answer. Pattie Servine, P.R. Department at Sacred Heart Medical Center. Taylor Swift just because I really like your music. Carl Evans and Detective Corbett Ford of the Cottonwood Heights Police Department. Tony Bonney.
And the crew of the
Windstar
, especially Amanda Millar, who delivered the proofs of this book in Virgin Gorda, miraculously.
My staff: Diane Glad, Barry Evans, Heather McVey, Fran Plat, Lisa Johnson, Lisa McDonald, Sherri Engar, Jed Platt, and Doug Smith.
The family; Keri, Jenna and David, Allyson, Abigail, McKenna and Michael.
As always, my Heavenly Father.
To Karen Christoffersen
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening