McKay’s words echoed back to me: The more I unplug from the matrix, the more I find myself. Walk away. Walk as far and as fast as you can. And then there was the man in the bar. You’ve got one shot at this. Don’t waste it. Get out of town. Go someplace they don’t recognize you, to an island or something. Go for a long walk.
It seemed that the universe kept hinting at walking. Even in my recurring dream. Of course, the obvious thing to do was to just go back to my life. At that moment I confronted the raw truth: I didn’t want to go back to my life. I wasn’t happy. I kept myself insanely busy just to avoid the quiet moments of loneliness and regret. In many ways I was as miserable as I had been as a child. The only real happiness I remembered had been those few years of bliss with Monica. What had I traded her love for?
In my first session with Dr. Fordham, she had questioned my dream. Why would the route start where I was and end where Monica was? At the time I told her that it was of no consequence, but even then, subliminally, I must have known she was right. That’s why I got so upset when she suggested it. The fact that I was walking Route 66 to Monica was no more a coincidence than the fire and wailing and sirens of a plane crash. My subconscious and Dr. Fordham had shown me what I was afraid to admit—if Monica would take me back, I would go to her, leaving all else behind. I would sell all I had to purchase the one pearl of great price.
At that moment I knew what I was going to do. What I had to do. Maybe I’d known all along. I was going to walk. Just as my dream, McKay, Dr. Fordham, and some stranger in a bar had said I should. I would walk as far away from my broken life as I could. It was only fitting that I would travel back on a broken road.
And I would walk to her. And in my journey I would show her that I had changed and that I was willing to take a chance that she might forgive me. For whatever reason, fate, the universe, or just stupid dumb luck had given me a second chance at life. Maybe Monica would do the same.
Acknowledgments
This book is a year late. Thankfully. The book I would have written, had I turned it in on time, would have been filled with anger and anguish. I would like to thank my friend Jonathan Karp, editor Trish Todd, Carolyn Reidy, and the Simon & Schuster family who stuck by me during a very difficult personal time. Without your kindness, love, and support, this book never would have been possible. Thank you to my new editor, Christine Pride. You hit the ground running! This book is much better because of your input and insight. I look forward to our future together. Also, thank you to my agent, Laurie Liss, who was and is always there for me and my family.
The Broken Road is loosely based on a real life, a true story of redemption. The first time I met the very successful man who inspired my main character, Charles James, he humbly told me that he was a sinner, but was hoping God would someday forgive him. The horrific childhood I describe in this book contains much of his truth. Way too much. For this reason, he has asked to remain anonymous so as to not bring pain to anyone. So here I thank my anonymous friend for inspiring me with a story of redemption. I believe that God has already forgiven you.
Discover another life-changing journey from Richard Paul Evans with The Walk series.
The Walk
The Walk
* * *
Miles to Go
Miles to Go
* * *
The Road to Grace
The Road to Grace
* * *
A Step of Faith
A Step of Faith
* * *
Walking on Water
Walking on Water
* * *
ORDER YOUR COPIES TODAY!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
© TRACEY EVANS
RICHARD PAUL EVANS is the #1 bestselling author of The Christmas Box. Each of his more than thirty novels has been a New York Times bestseller. There are more than thirty million copies of his books in print worldwide, translated into more than twenty-four languages. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Mothers Book Award, the Romantic Times Best Women’s Novel of the Year Award, the German Audience Gold Award for Romance, four Religion Communicators Council Wilbur Awards, the Washington Times Humanitarian of the Century Award, and the Volunteers of America National Empathy Award. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri, not far from their five children and two grandchildren.
You can learn more about Richard on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RPEfans or read his blog at www.richardpaulevans.com.
MEET THE AUTHORS, WATCH VIDEOS AND MORE AT
SimonandSchuster.com
Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Richard-Paul-Evans
Coming Soon
The
Forgotten
Road
The journey continues Spring 2018
ALSO BY RICHARD PAUL EVANS
THE MISTLETOE COLLECTION
The Mistletoe Secret
The Mistletoe Promise
The Mistletoe Inn
THE WALK SERIES
The Walk
Miles to Go
The Road to Grace
A Step of Faith
Walking on Water
The Four Doors
A Winter Dream
Lost December
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 AND YOUNG ADULTS
The Dance
The Christmas Candle
The Spyglass
The Tower
The Light of Christmas
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25
Michael Vey 2: Rise of the Elgen
Michael Vey 3: Battle of the Ampere
Michael Vey 4: Hunt for Jade Dragon
Michael Vey 5: Storm of Lightning
Michael Vey 6: Fall of Hades
We hope you enjoyed reading this Simon & Schuster ebook.
* * *
Get a FREE ebook when you join our mailing list. Plus, get updates on new releases, deals, recommended reads, and more from Simon & Schuster. Click below to sign up and see terms and conditions.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Already a subscriber? Provide your email again so we can register this ebook and send you more of what you like to read. You will continue to receive exclusive offers in your inbox.
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 by Richard Paul Evans
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Simon & Schuster Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition May 2017
SIMON & SCHUSTER and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or
[email protected] The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.
Interior design by Joy O’Meara
Jacket design by Marlyn Dantes
Jacket photograph by Akos Na
gy/Shutterstock
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
ISBN 978-1-5011-1164-8
ISBN 978-1-5011-1178-5 (ebook)
Richard Paul Evans, The Quotable Evans
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends