Free Sarah's Baby by Margaret Way Page A

him.
    But his relationship with Ruth McQueen…it couldn’t be true. Wouldn’t Ruth have a problem mating with a mere mortal? Sarah wondered if this was some wild story people chose to believe simply because it was so bizarre. Not that Ruth McQueen was without a lethal sort of attraction. Even now that she was a woman in her seventies, you could see that she’d possessed sexual magnetism.
    Imagine trying to make love to her, Sarah thought. Joe would’ve had to manage the whole business on his knees. When she tapped on the glass door, Joe raised his head, his gentle, worn face lighting up.
    â€œCome in, Sarah. Please sit down.”
    â€œI’ve left your car out front.”
    â€œThank you, my dear. Did you manage to get a little sleep?”
    â€œNot right away, Joe. I don’t have to tell you what it’s like. Now, what’s this you want to talk over with me? You look awfully tired. Are you all right?”
    â€œSort of.” Joe responded.
    â€œThat’s not much of an answer.”
    â€œAll right then, my dear. I have cancer. I’m not telling anyone else.”
    â€œJoe!” Sarah was saddened and shocked. “If you can bear to, please tell me more.”
    Joe did, going into clinical detail. It was clear he had only six to twelve months to live. “As I say, Sarah, and you will know, it’s the end of the line.”
    â€œYou’re so calm, Joe.” Sarah said, finding it difficult to swallow.
    â€œI’m seventy. I’ve had a good innings.”
    Sarah couldn’t contain her distress. “Oh, Joe, how I wish we doctors could change things that desperately need changing.”
    â€œI have my faith to sustain me, Sarah. I believe in God. I believe in an afterlife. I don’t know how I’ll do getting through those pearly gates, though.” He briefly closed his eyes. “I lost myself for a few years there along the way.”
    â€œYou mean Ruth McQueen?” Sarah asked as gently as she could.
    Joe laughed wryly. “Ruth had—still has—a certain technique for mesmerizing people. She mesmerized me from the start. I know it sounds weak, but for years she had an uncanny power over me. I knew she was only using me—Ruth had a very strong sex drive. In fact, to my shame, she threw me over.” He shook his head. “This is old stuff, Sarah. I know you chose not to believe it, but… The point is, I never neglected my patients.”
    â€œI know that, Joe. You’ve made a real difference. The town owes you a great debt.”
    Joe shrugged that away. “Caring for people, trying to cure them, is our role, Sarah. What I’m trying to get to is—Forgive my shaky hands. It’s the drugs I’m on. Would you consider for one moment replacing me? I hear all about you from colleagues. You’re a fine doctor and there’s plenty of doctoring to do in this town.”
    â€œI couldn’t, Joe.”
    â€œWhat’s your biggest obstacle? Unfinished business with Kyall?”
    Sarah dropped her eyes. “I was over Kyall McQueen half a lifetime ago.”
    â€œI don’t think so.” Joe reached a hand across the table, his voice so strange Sarah lifted her head to stare at him. “You’ve never told me, but did Ruth threaten you?”
    Sarah almost broke down. “Ruth McQueen has been a very threatening presence in a lot of people’s lives.”
    â€œI know she was desperate to break you and Kyall up. I wasn’t happy about that and told her so. She used to talk to me. She doesn’t any longer.”
    â€œDoes she really talk to anybody, including Kyall? I hate that woman.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause she ripped me from Kyall’s side. I know it sounds extravagant, but Kyall meant the world to me. He was the sun, the moon, the stars. He was my brother, my soul mate, my very best friend.”
    â€œForgive me, Sarah. There’s so much