CHAPTER ELEVEN

EZRA

Knocking on Aria's front door, Ezra took a moment to take in the quaint atmosphere surrounding the neighborhood where she grew up. He could easily picture her as a little girl, riding her bicycle down the sidewalk or waiting for the school bus at the end of the driveway. This seemed like a perfect place to raise a family, so he could see why she would want to stay. The sound of the front door opening brought Ezra's attention back towards the house.

"Hey," Aria smiled at him as she let him into her home. She was currently putting in an earring and made to pick up a necklace she had discarded on a small table in the hallway.

"Here, let me," Ezra told her, moving to pick up the jewelry. Moving her hair off of her neck he softly clasped the necklace into place and pressed a light kiss to her hair. They had been seeing each other off and on for a few weeks now and as summer was drawing to a close, he thought that the perfect way to spend one of their last warm evenings would be down at the local town festival being held that weekend. This was also the first time all three of them had gone out together, so Ezra was a tad nervous.

The sound of tiny feet running towards him caused Ezra to turn his head towards the living room. "Eza!" Parker yelled out, launching himself at Ezra's khaki shorts, currently the only part of him that he could reach.

Ezra lifted the little boy into his arms, settling him onto his hip before pressing a similar kiss to his hairline. "Hey there, Buddy! You ready to eat some hot dogs?"

Parker furiously nodded his head in response. "Momma said I can even go on ta spinny car ride! But only if she goes wit me." Moving his face closer to Ezra's, Parker whispered, "But I'ze can't go wit a girl, Eza! It's not a girly ride! Will you take me?" Aria rolled her eyes as she listened to Parker whine about her rule. Grabbing her purse, they made their way out the door.

Ezra couldn't help but laugh at Parker's explanation. "Of course I'll go with you, Parks!" He mimicked Parker by leaning in closer and lowering his voice. "And don't worry, it is not a ride for girls. I'm not sure they'd even let your Mommy on!"

Aria laughed as she nudged Ezra. As Ezra put Parker down so that he could walk, he gently clasped Aria's hand with his own. It was such a beautiful night outside that they had chosen to walk the short distance to the festival.

"Thank you for taking us tonight, Parker's been begging me all week," Aria told him, watching as Parker suddenly started running ahead when they got close enough to see the multitude of bright lights and hear the loud blend of fair noises. "Parker! Stay with us please!"

Parker slowed down and grabbed Aria's other hand. "Sowry, Mommy."

Ezra pulled out his wallet to pay their entrance before wrapping his arm around Aria's shoulder and leading them towards the food tents. "It's no problem, Aria. Hardy really wanted to go as well, but I thought you two would be much better company," he answered with a chuckle. Aria replied with a large smile.

"Parker, Sweetheart, what would you like to eat? There's hamburgers, sausages-" Aria was quickly interrupted.

"Eza said I could get a hotdog!" Parker whined.

"Hotdogs it is," Aria replied with a smile.

Making their way towards a hotdog booth, Ezra turned towards Aria. "I think I saw vegetarian hamburgers at that station over there," he said pointing to a station a few booths down from where the hotdog booth was. "Would you like me to get you that while you get Parker his hotdog?"

Aria thought for a minute before responding. "No, you probably would like a hotdog as well. Why don't you wait with him while I go get that?" She started to pull out a few bills before Ezra started shaking his head and pulled out his own wallet.

"You don't honestly think that I'd ever take money from you, do you?" Ezra asked her with a smile. "Here, we'll meet you by that lemonade booth in a few minutes." He handed her a couple of dollars.

Sighing, Aria reluctantly took the money. She had been on her own for so long now, that it was almost uncomfortable receiving any sort of help. She was surprising herself at all of the exceptions she was making for Ezra, however. "Sounds perfect."

As she walked away, Parker took Ezra's hand. They inched their way forward in line until they were finally at the front. Lifting Parker once again into his arms so that he could see the man taking their order, Ezra turned to read the menu board nailed to the back of the wooden booth.

"Hi, Sir. How can I help you?"

"Umm, just a second," Ezra muttered, scanning over the different options.

Parker started tugging at Ezra's collar. "I want a long ones! Wit ketsup!"

Chuckling, Ezra turned towards the man inside the booth. "Could we get two footlong hotdogs, please?"

"Sure thing. Would you or your son like onions or relish with that? Condiments are over there," the man asked.

"Oh, he's not-"

"No, Eza! I not want tat yucky green stuff!" Parker cried out.

Ezra chuckled, choosing to overlook the man's mistake. "No thank you, just two plain hotdogs." Upon receiving the hotdogs and applying the necessary condiments, Ezra took Parker's hand once again and began leading him towards where Aria was now waiting for them with two large lemonades.

"Do you like your hotdog, Baby?" Aria asked with a laugh, watching as Parker got more of the hotdog on himself than in his mouth.

"Uh huh!" Parker replied with his mouth full of food. Ezra chuckled as he took a drink from Aria. They continued to walk around the festival, finishing their food and drinks and just generally enjoying the night. As the night came to an end, they found themselves taking one last ride on the Ferris wheel overlooking downtown Rosewood. Parker was perched in between the two of them, straining to see everything that he possibly could.

"Parker, be careful," Aria warned, nervously touching the back of her son's shirt when he strained to look out a bit too far and rocked the car they sat in. Ezra picked the little boy up and sat him in his lap so that he could see better, wrapping an arm protectively across his stomach. "Thank you," Aria mouthed towards him.

Ezra replied with a small smile. "Look, Parks, you can see your house from up here!" Pointing in the general direction of the house, Ezra knew that they couldn't actually see it but Parker didn't know that. He feverishly shook his head in agreement and started to whine in displeasure as they made their way back towards the ground.

When the car had safely reached the ground, Ezra made to help Parker off of the ride but the little boy pushed his hands away and stood to get out. "I can do it, Eza! I'm a big boy!" Without warning, Parker was suddenly falling out of the car and onto the gravel below. The little boy suddenly let out a cry so loud that Ezra wondered if it hadn't come from himself instead. He hastily shoved his way off of the ride and scooped the crying child up. Aria was by his side in a second, tears starting to form in her own eyes as Ezra maneuvered them off towards the side.

He brushed the stray gravel and dirt off of Parker's shirt as he looked for any sort of injury. Finding none, he carefully wiped the tears from the little boy's eyes and hugged Aria close to his side, releasing a large breath. "He's ok, he's ok," Ezra muttered, pressing the child to his chest and kissing Aria's head as she took a deep, calming breath.

"I think it may be time to go home now," Aria said with a shaky laugh. Ezra nodded in agreement, lifting the now exhausted little boy into his arms and leading her towards the exit. Aria was completely taken aback at how much Ezra cared for her son. She wrapped her own arm around his waist as they made their way home.

Ezra shook his head in bewilderment. Who would have thought that he would be this afraid after seeing a child fall? He honestly couldn't believe that this was his life right now. Everything that seemed important before he had met Aria and Parker now seemed insignificant, and he was absolutely sure that he would do anything for this small family.