A/N: For Prettyinpinkgal, obviously.
For anyone who might chance to come across this it's based on my good friends self-published book. Please don't be put off my the word 'self-published' it's an enjoyable read both reasonably moving and good fun and it had me captivated 'till the end. If you're interested search 'Alyssa B. Cole' and you'll find her website.
Disclaimer: Under the Flag of Stars and Stripes belongs to Alyssa B. Cole
It was the end for Abby and Ethan. It was the end for Liz and Alex. It wasn't the end for poor Mr. Yardley. Mrs. Perry's death had affected him in a permanent way. Whether it was for love of the woman herself that brought on this new bought of depression or the confirmation of the fragility of life he couldn't quite say but in any case it stayed always somewhere in his thoughts.
In the idealistic, perfectionist town of Radley, depression was not taken kindly. There were plenty depressed people, Yardley was sure of that but they kept it to themselves and that's what he tried to do, but he couldn't keep it from his wife.
Mrs. Yardley, though she was not as deeply routed in Radley like the Doyles from next door, had come to be considered a 'founder member' purely from her enthusiasm to keep the small town spirit going. Her main duty was organising the cake sales for abused children (abused children from elsewhere of course although at times in her early years she had seriously considered slipping a couple of five dollar bills into the outstretched hand of Abby Doyle) but she was on at least three other town comities besides and solely responsible for the recent re-paving of Cumberland Road.
Mrs. Perry's death had hit in stages, first Yardley had been saddened but acceptant, then he had become frustrated on her behalf, then after Ethan's return he had been hit by Ethan's grief besides his own but only now had he really started to fixate on the happening. From the start he had missed her and made himself responsible for taking fresh flowers to her grave every week, when Ethan and Abby found out they thanked him kindly. Then he started to devote his prayers to her and now he was writing.
My dear Emma,
It's peculiar how one can go through those familiar motions of falling in love long after a person's death. Maybe I've always been infatuated with you and I've only come to realise it now.
In any case I want to tell you that you are always in my thoughts and my prayers and I sincerely hope we meet in the next world so I can tell you in person; you are a great woman Emma Perry. Why did this wretched illness have to rob our town of you?
Yours truly,
Bill x
Mrs. Yardley would find the letter that night as, in the way men do, Mr. Yardley did not bother to clear it away before dinner. She would be over at the Millers the next day, then the Adams and then the Doyles and all three wives would tut and squeeze her hand and tell her men were a mystery to us all. A year later they'd be happily divorced and Ellen Yardley would now be Ellen Henderson, Mr. Yardley would devote his time to his books, diaries old maps and various other writings he secretly harboured a passion for. He'd regularly visit Abby and Ethan, now good friends and perhaps together they'd all over come Emma Perry's departure.
But Mr. Yardley was a neat sort and he filed the letter away in one of his old diaries. Mrs. Yardley never found it and they lived unhappily ever after.
A/N: I thought Ethan and Abby had been tied neatly off at the end and I thought I'd do the same for a couple of other characters instead of focusing on then. Hope you didn't object too much. Xx
I couldn't remember if Mrs. Perry/Mr. Yardley had a first name! I'm so sorry I hope you'll forgive me in they did.
Xanthe Z. Young