Chapter 6
“Beautiful service tonight,” Melba said while dishing macaroni and cheese onto Ellis’ plate. “The praise team sang well, and I think Pastor’s message was very well put. Don’t you?”
“I sure do.”
“Are you a Christian man, Mr. Barnes?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good boy.”
There wasn’t any hesitation in Ellis’ lie. Melba didn’t seem the type to accept his disappointment in the church, and he wasn’t up for a debate on the matter. What he did want, however, was to spend a little time learning about Sara, Phil, and Stan. He felt a twinge of guilt over fishing for information behind Sara’s back, but if there was anything to Phil’s warning, then he might be doing himself a favor. Melba said grace, and Ellis decided to get straight to the point.
“Any more problems with that Phil guy?”
“Oh, no. Phillip really is a good boy. He’s just going through a rough time is all.”
“Due to what?”
Melba chewed her food slowly, allowing herself a moment to think. “Phillip’s had a hard time all his life, to be honest. He wasn’t the best-behaved little boy, but what can you expect with an upbringing like his? His mother left shortly after he was born, and his father was physically and verbally abusive. Phillip was fifteen, I believe, when he came home to an empty house and a note.” Melba grimaced at the thought. “I don’t want to give any details, but let’s just say the letter was very belittling toward Phillip.”
Ellis held back a curse. The thought of any parent purposely abandoning their child infuriated him.
“Anyway,” Melba said after a short pause and another bite of noodles, “Phillip’s father was eventually tracked down and arrested, and Phillip’s uncle took custody of him. You met Percy this morning at breakfast.”
“Percy? He didn’t sound particularly fond of Phil.”
Melba sighed. “Percy tried his hardest with Phillip, he really did. He feels that all those years of trying to do good were wasted; but, despite that, Percy still loves him.”
“Is he staying with Percy now?”
“I’m not sure where Phillip is at the moment.”
“So what turned him into an alcoholic?”
“Genetics and a broken heart.”
“Was Sara Campbell the one who broke his heart?”
Melba nodded but then stopped and looked at Ellis inquisitively. He immediately cursed his eagerness, but Melba simply shrugged and took another bite.
“Yes, she was, but you should have told me you’ve heard all this before. I’d hate to be accused of boring a guest.”
“I can’t imagine you boring anyone, Mom,” someone said from the next room. Ellis recognized the voice immediately.
“Stanley!” Melba exclaimed. “I didn’t hear you come in, hon. Come, have a seat. Mr. Barnes and I were just talking. Have you two met? Are you hungry?”
Ellis studied Stan as he entered the room. He seemed pleasant enough in front of his mother, but there was an annoyance in his eyes, and Ellis knew he was suddenly unwanted.
“I could eat, and yes, we’ve briefly met.”
“I’ll get you a plate ready. Mr. Barnes is a writer, you know.”
Melba disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Ellis and Stan alone. It was Stan who broke the silence which followed.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping, believe it or not, but what happened between Sara and Phil is none of your business.”
“I never said it was.”
“Then let’s remember that, shall we?”
The silence resumed until Melba returned with Stan’s plate. She seated herself and smiled at the two of them. “So what brings you here, Stanley?”
“Leslie has company over, so I thought I’d come visit.”
“Leslie is Stanley’s beautiful wife,” Melba said to Ellis in an unnecessary whisper. “They’re working on giving me some grandbabies.” Ellis smiled while Stan shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “How’s that coming, dear?”
“Slowly,” Stan answered simply.
They ate in silence, and it was during this time of quiet reflection that Ellis decided he wasn’t fond of being bullied.
“Continuing the earlier conversation,” he said while looking defiantly at Stan, “I heard that Phil and Sara had been an item, but I’m not clear on the details. How bad could the breakup have been to make Phil fall so badly?” Stan’s face glowed red, but Melba didn’t seem to notice. Feeling a twinge of pleasure from Stan’s expression, Ellis turned to Melba and smiled warmly.
“Oh, honey,” she said, “I don’t like to gossip.”
With that, Melba gathered the plates and headed into the kitchen. Ellis deflated and stared blankly at the table, cursing his ill-timed defiance.
“Just had to dig in, didn’t you?” Stan said, chuckling softly beneath his breath.
“Yeah,” Ellis answered in a defeated tone. “Kinda wish I would have held my tongue.”
Melba returned momentarily and clapped her hands together. “I have to be up before the sun tomorrow, so I’m bringing this little gathering to a close. Ellis, you have been wonderful company, and I hope we can do this again sometime.”
“Oh, absolutely,” he said, forcing a smile
“I’ll walk him out,” Stan said while planting a kiss on Melba’s cheek.
Ellis and Stan walked silently until they reached the porch.
“Let’s talk,” Stan said. He closed the door and propped himself against a column.
“I’m not really in the mood to talk.”
“Not even about Sara?”
Ellis shut up. He didn’t care for Stan but felt he could tolerate the pianist long enough to alleviate his curiosity about Sara and Phil.
“Alright,” he said.
Stan nodded and took a breath. He gazed out for a moment, flicked a cicada off the porch railing, and then turned back to Ellis. “Sara has some personal issues, and yes, she’s hurt people in the past. I’m not saying she’s a bad person, or that she wishes ill on anyone, but there are things that she needs to see through before talking to someone like you.”
“What does that have to do with Phil?”
“Barely anything. Phil’s just someone who got in the way, like you’re trying to do. You’re only making it harder on her.”
“Isn’t it her place to decide how to deal with her personal issues?”
“How she handles her life is her choice, but I’m just warning you, you’ll only get hurt in the end. She’s off limits.”
Ellis noted how similar Stan’s warning was to Phil’s, almost exact.
“Stan, you’re giving me absolutely nothing here. Did you give Phil this speech? Did she reject you, too?”
He could see Stan’s blood boiling but was surprised by how quickly he calmed himself down. “I’ve never wanted Sara, Ellis. She was off limits even to me. And, yes, I did give this same speech to Phil, and it strained our friendship until after I was proven right. He was on a good path until he got caught up in Sara’s problems.”
“So you’re saying you’re doing this for me?”
“I’m doing this for Sara. I’m assuming you’ve seen her eyes go distant? Have you noticed how she becomes distracted and cuts things short?” Ellis didn’t answer. “There’s a reason for all that. Sure, be a friend—whatever—but tomorrow, when your book thing is finished, just leave her be. Don’t make it harder on her than it already is.”
“And you won’t tell me what she’s dealing with?”
“It’s not my place.”
“But it is your place to warn me about it?”
“Sometimes, you just need to step in for the benefit of the blind.”
“And what would Sara say if I told her about this conversation?”
Stan hesitated before answering, “She’d be upset but agree with me in the end.”
Ellis wanted to be angry but read the genuine care in Stan’s voice. He really was looking out for Sara’s best interests. D
espite his waning desire to dislike the man, Ellis took a slow breath and composed himself.
“I appreciate your concern,” he said, “but Sara’s made it perfectly clear that she isn’t interested in pursuing a relationship.” Stan’s intensity seemed to relax upon hearing this. “But I’m going to continue being her friend for the sake of my needing someone to talk to.”
“That’s fine,” Stan said softly. “I’m okay with that.”
Ellis didn’t need Stan’s approval, but he kept that to himself. He opted to lighten the mood instead.
“So,” he said pleasantly, “grandbabies?”
Stan nodded, though, his solemn face remained. “That’s what she wants.”
“Do you want children?”
Stan hesitated before finally answering, “Yeah, yeah I do.”
The two men parted ways, and Ellis couldn’t help but wonder why Stan was so protective over Sara. It wasn’t Stan’s place to poke his nose in Sara’s business, but then, it wasn’t Ellis’ place to inquire into her life either.
As he neared Annie’s Lodge, he came to the conclusion that he wouldn’t tell Sara about his encounters with Phil and Stan. He had been lying when he told Stan he wasn’t interested in pursuing Sara. He very much planned on getting to know Sara better, despite what the pianist thought.