A/N-This is based off of 'Second Time Around'. Bill had broken up with Charlene because he felt guilty loving someone after his wife had died. Bill's first wife was named Nancy and according to the show, they were married 6 years, 6 months
and 4 days. They never did say exactly when she died so I made a day up.
Disclaimer- I do not own the story of 'Designing women or the character of Bill.
The details I will give to Bill's late wife is of my own creation.
It was Thanksgiving day and Bill was going flying. Charlene didn't even ask questions...she knew, she and Julia had done a little research and found out that Nancy, Bill's late wife had died on Thanksgiving. She had wanted Bill to come over for thanksgiving lunch but she understood.
They were at the airport and she walked with Bill to the plane and had kissed him, he turned and got in the plane without too many words. He had started the plane and backed out then his plane rose up in the blue sky.
Tears were on Charlene's face. She waved to him then went home to fix lunch with Mary Jo and the girls.
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Bill was in the endless blue sky that had very few clouds for that day. Flying was a easy as breathing so he reveled in the memories.
He and Nancy had meet over flying lessons, shortly before he had joined the Air Force, he had gone to take lessons and in the class was this little red headed woman who caught his eye.
She had been fiesty and asked a lot of questions but those questions only helped the class. Nobody knew it but her grandfather had been a pilot for World War 2 and she was determined to get her license for him.
Bill had asked her out, didn't really think anything would come of it but he didn't ever want to be without her!
He had finally asked her to marry him and she said "Yes" very simply, as a matter of fact.
They had got married in the summer. Went flying to their honeymoon.
They tried to have kids but...maybe it was for the best...Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer and she died a year after that. On Thankgiving day.
Bill wondered, what did he have to be thankful after that?
Nothing. Until...
Bill was up there all afternoon, alone in the blue encompassed silence.
{
The door opened to Julia's house, they were gathering there because it was just big enough for all of them. Suzanne couldn't or wouldn't cook and her maid was off for the day.
Bill came in and Charlene smiled, she ran over and hugged him and she said,
"You are just in time, we are about to sit down to leftovers"
Bill smiled and said, "That's the best part of Thanksgiving, isn't it? The leftovers?"
Anthony said, "Yeah, it just seemed like we just ate. Went into a food coma for four hours and woke up hungry again"
They all laughed and Julia said, "We all said earlier what we are thankful for this day. Would you like to say something Bill?"
He looked around the room then said, slowly at first, "I'm thankful to have been married to Nancy...and now, to have Charlene"
Tears were flowing down Charlene's cheeks. Mary Jo grabbed J.D.'s hand and Julia and Suzanne smiled at each other. Anthony finally felt like he was in a family then Julia said, "Well, everybody, eat!"
There was no leftovers for he next day.