Moving On

by Freespirit

A few of us have speculated on what Ezra's life was like before he left Atlanta. This is my take on how far he has come since then.

It's Saturday night and everyone has a date except for Ezra. Ezra sat in his easy chair with a glass of wine in one hand and classical music playing on the stereo. He was bored. He didn't want to stay at home and stare at these walls. After the three weeks he'd had, Ezra thought he deserved a night out on the town. So, he put the glass down and got up after turning off the stereo with the remote. He reached into his closet and took out his light coat and put it on, then grabbed his car keys from the hall table and left his townhouse.

Ezra parked his car at his favorite French restaurant and went inside.

There was a line at the front door so he politely made his way to the front and found his way to the bar.

Ezra didn't pay much attention to the woman making a fuss at the manager about having to wait for a table because she didn't have a reservation. Ezra shook his head as he sat down on a bar stool.

The bar tender came over and smiled. "The usual Mr. Standish?"

"Yes, please."

"Ah, Mr. Standish, it's nice to see you again. Your table awaits," Pierre DuBoise, the manager greeted.

Ezra took his coat from the back of the stool and followed Pierre. "Thanks Pierre. Is there any chance you could procure for me a nice room for the night?"

"I can try, but with that home security convention in town, it may be an impossibility."

Ezra nodded his head. "I had forgotten, my apologies."

Pierre stopped at a small booth and stepped to the side so Ezra could slide in. "I will have Dexter bring you your drink," Pierre said as he handed Ezra a menu.

"Thank you."

As Ezra sat and waited for his drink to arrive, a blond woman sat down in the booth across from him.

"Hello, Ezra," she said.

Ezra sighed and put the menu down. "Courtney."

"How is it you can get a table without a reservation?"

"What makes you think I didn't have one?"

"I looked at the reservation book and your name wasn't on it. Did you bribe the manager?"

Ezra leaned across the table. "No, that's your style, not mine."

Courtney slumped back against the seat and crossed her arms and smiled. "Still, I'd like to know how you did it."

"I have a standing reservation. Now if you do not mind, I am waiting for someone," Ezra lied.

Just then Dexter came over with Ezra's drink and sat it down in front of him

Courtney reached over and took the glass. "Thank you. You might want to bring Mr. Standish one."

Dexter was about to say something when Ezra shook his head and just had Dexter bring him another drink.

"What are you doing here Courtney?" Ezra asked when Dexter left.

Courtney sighed and rolled her eyes. "That home security convention thing that Home Security is hosting. Daddy thought it might be a good idea to attend the damn thing to see how we could improve security. He's just trying to hook me up with this bozo nephew of one of his business partners."

"I thought you were married?"

"Oh I was, but it only lasted a year. Now I'm divorced."

"Well, it was nice . . ." Ezra started to say.

Courtney leaned across the table. "I've heard you've been cleared of all wrong doing. Is it true? Was it your partner that was on the take?"

"Yes it's true. My name has been cleared, and yes, my partner was on the take," Ezra answered. "As I said before, I am waiting for someone."

Courtney cocked her head to the side. "Why haven't you moved back home to Atlanta? You know if you did, we could maybe start over."

"Now why would I want to move back to Atlanta? I have everything I ever wanted here in Denver. I have a job that I truly love. A partner that has my back. A boss that believes in me. Even after I fucked up royally, he still kept me on the team, gave me a second chance. There is no way I'll ever give all that up."

"What about the family and the home you always talked about, hmm?"

"I have that. And some day I hope to find someone who will love me for me, in spite of my fears and faults."

Dexter chose that moment to bring Ezra his drink. "Are you ready to order, Mr. Standish?"

"Not yet Dexter, but thank you."

"Well, I am, and I'll have another one of these."

Dexter looked to Ezra. "She can wait, thank you."

Dexter bowed his head and left.

"Ezra, I'm starved. I have been waiting for God only knows how long to get a table and you send the waiter away without allowing me to order. That's just rude."

"You've been rude every since you've sat down here, uninvited."

"You know how I get when I'm hungry."

Ezra sighed and decided to ignore the woman across from him, wishing he was waiting for someone.

"Courtney, I have moved on. I have made friends here. I have a townhouse, and have decided to plant roots here. What we had is over and I have no desire to start over with you."

"Whose the woman you're waiting for?" Courtney smiled at Ezra.

Courtney saw a sparkle come to Ezra's eyes when he looked at her.

"She's the niece of my boss's boss."

"Oh really?"

"Yes," Ezra chuckled.

+ + + + + + +

"Hey Blake," a red-headed, green-eyed woman said as she sat down at the bar.

The bar tender looked up at the woman. "Hey, Paige, what'll it be tonight?"

"Oh, I don't know, something with Irish whiskey in it."

"Ooo, tough week?"

"Tough flight. What's up with Pierre and Dexter?"

"Oh, some rich bitch put up a fuss 'cause Pierre told her she had to wait for a table and Dexter said the same woman sat down in Mr. Standish's booth uninvited and won't leave even after he told her he was waiting for someone. Twice he's told her."

"Ezra's here?" Paige smiled up at Blake. "That explains why he didn't answer his home phone. Is he at his usual table?"

"Yes, Ma'am, he is," Blake smiled.

Paige looked around until she found Pierre. "Pierre?"

Pierre looked over to where his name was called and smiled as he approached Paige. "Ah, Miss McAllister. How nice it is to see you."

"Thank you. I was wondering if you could do me the honor of escorting me to Mr. Standish's table? I hear he's having trouble with someone?"

"That he is," Pierre bowed. "Right this way Miss McAllister, your date is waiting."

+ + + + + + +

"I don't believe you, Ezra."

"I do not care if you believe me or not. I am waiting for someone. Please leave before she gets here."

"What? Is she the jealous type?"

"No, I'm not," Paige said as she stood next to the table.

Ezra got up from the table. "Paige, you're here."

"Finally. I'm sorry for being late," Paige said, then kissed Ezra and linked her hand with his.

"I told you I was waiting for someone," Ezra grinned down at Courtney.

"I believe you're in my seat."

Courtney stood and glared at the couple. "I guess I'll have to wait for a table to open up."

Paige sat down when Courtney walked away. "Who was that?"

"A blast from the past. Her name is Courtney Holland," Ezra answered.

"The Courtney Holland that you were engaged to back in Atlanta?"

Ezra nodded. "The very same."

"What did she want?"

Ezra smiled. "Me. She wants to get back together."

"I hope you told her that isn't going to happen."

"I did. I told her I've moved on and I have everything I have ever wanted, here in Denver."

"Do you still keep a suit case of clothes in your trunk in case of emergencies?"

"Why, yes I do," Ezra smiled. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I don't like being stared at, especially by your ex. I thought perhaps you might like to take this party to my suite upstairs."

"Ooo, I don't know. What will your Uncle say?"

"Do I care what Uncle Orin says? No, I do not."

Ezra leaned across the table and kissed Paige. "Lead the way."

Paige and Ezra left the table and stopped long enough to tell Pierre that they'd be ordering from their room and for him to send a bottle of their best wine up to the suite.

"That would be my pleasure, Miss McAllister."

"Thank you Pierre," Paige called over her shoulder as she and Ezra left.

THE END

End