Bless the Broken Road.

Chapter One // - 20 years later -

Taylor had just finished her jog on her running machine when her roommate, Chris, came in. There were many perks of sharing an apartment with Chris as he was her best friend. "Have you seen Warner recently?" Chris asked as Taylor slowed down on the machine. When the machine finally came to a halt, she turned and shook her head. Her dirty blond hair was scraped back into a high ponytail and there were a few drops of sweat on her flawless forehead. Her sports crop top and shorts were stained slightly with dark patches of sweat too. It was Thursday and Taylor's day off. She worked two jobs. She was a successful author and a lawyer. She worked as a lawyer from Mondays to Wednesdays and as an author from Fridays to Sundays -- or whenever she wanted. Chris was also her editor so if she ever had a new idea, she could simply discuss it over breakfast, which was very easy. Chris was also working two jobs. He was also a waiter in the hottest new café, Paúl, and he was learning French so he could impress a few customers. "Uhm no. I haven't." She panted as she walked off the machine and licked her dry lips. Chris smiled and handed her a water bottle. Just then there was a knock at the door. Chris walked smoothly to the door as Taylor walked towards the marbled kitchen counter. Chris came back with a bunch of envelopes. "Anything for me?" Taylor asked curiously as Chris shuffled through them. Most of them were for Chris from what she could see. Chris slowed as he looked on. There was one envelope for her. He plopped it down onto the counter and Taylor saw that it was in an handwriting she didn't recognise. It read; To Miss Taylor Peterson. She turned it over curiously and noticed that something was inside it. Carefully opening it she recognised it as a card. Turning the card over she gasped. It was from him. After all those years. It read; You are invited to attend the wedding of Mr Emmett Gilbert and Miss Frances Peabody on the noon of the 23rd April 20-. Chris looked at Taylor with a worried expression resting on his face. "It's Emmett. He getting married next month." Taylor said slowly smiling. She hadn't seen Emmett for twenty years and this was a huge surprise. Chris beamed at her.

—•••••—

"Mom. I seriously doubt that the barn would be Frances's choice of venue." Emmett chuckled as he was saddling up his horse, Jeanie. Ms Gilbert sighed as her only son was protesting. Emmett was not the type who would protest. His jeans were dusty and slightly splattered with black paint. His denim shirt was also very dusty and he had three top buttons undone which revealed a little peak of his muscled and sun kissed tanned chest. "Well what do you want? It's your wedding too." His mother continued as she handed her son his hat. By that point, Jeanie was saddled and Emmett was sat upon her. He exhaled and looked down on the sixty-eight year old widow. "I'd just be more comfy in the chapel in town. Bye mom." He said as he started to ride. He was going to the westward field to herd the horses as he always did even back when his father when he was alive. Emmett was fourteen when his father died. The whole town turned out to bid farewell to the 'nicest man of Riverside' as he was called.

Ms Gilbert walked slowly back towards her home. Her friend, Amelia, was sat on the bench opposite the door. "Have you told him?" She spoke as Ms Gilbert approached. Ms Gilbert shook her head slowly and exhaled loudly, "I didn't have the chance. He was practically ready to go out with Jeanie by the time I got the stables." Amelia sighed and patted her friend's hand. She knew that Emmett was impossible to talk to as he was always ready for a new adventure of some sort. "Don't worry. I'm sure we will have enough time to tell him. I'm positive." Amelia sighed as she helped Ms Gilbert into the warm home. Time was all they needed. But time was running out.