Page 69 of Stay Buried

He leaned back against his exam table.

I felt a shift in the air.

“I didn’t realize you and my wife were acquainted,” he said with obvious surprise. “May I ask—”

The old woman clucked her tongue, pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, and dabbed at her damp forehead.

“To continue my answer to your original question, Tom, I have not seen anything like this. But I have prayed on it, as I do over other things that have puzzled me in the course of my life. I prayed on it and received an answer.”

“An answer?”

“From the Angel Gabriel. He came to me in a dream. He told me Judgment Day was upon us and we’d best atone for our sins.”

“Mrs. Albone, I don’t think—”

She let out a series of deep, raspy coughs, but held her hand up, signaling to Thomas that she wasn’t finished. “He said that we brought this evil on ourselves,” she said. “The entire town. We called it here.”

“With all due respect, Mrs. Albone, this is an illness, not a biblical plague.” His voice shook slightly, faltering. Was he doubting himself? He cleared his throat. “Now, I’d like to give you some aspirin for the pain. Some cough medicine. And something to help you sleep.”

She shook her head, gave a mirthful chuckle. “I’ve got medicine that can do all of those things and more, Doctor.”

“Very well. Is there anything Icando for you?”

“I’m afraid not. Like you, I’ve got sick patients of my own waiting at home for me. I came here hoping that perhaps you’d have some insight into how best to help them. I had to hope, didn’t I?”

He nodded.

“There is something that’s been bothering me, though, Tom. Something perhaps you can shed some light upon.”

“Oh?” Uncle Thomas said.

She looked at him a moment, considering. Then she turned and looked at me. “Frankie, dear, would you mind giving us some privacy?”

“Of course,” I said, bowing out of the room and shutting the door.

I froze there, listening at the door, knowing I shouldn’t but needing to know what the old woman had to say.

“Are you still well?” Charlotte asked. “And Margaret? Is she well?”

“We’re both just fine, thank you. What’s this about?”

“Tom, I’d like to ask you something. It’s… delicate.” Charlotte coughed hard now.

“Go right ahead.”

“The baby your wife is carrying. Is there a reason you wouldn’t want the child?”

“What?” His voice was sharp. “Of course I want the child! It’s our dream, mine and Margaret’s. It’s all we’ve ever wanted. Something we discussed and planned for before we were even married.”

There was silence for a moment. I could only hear my own heart pounding.

“I don’t mind telling you I find the very question offensive. What on earth would make you ask such a thing?” I had never heard him this worked up before.

“Margaret came to me two months ago and asked if there was a way to end her pregnancy. When I pressed her as to why, for I knew how much she had wanted this baby, she said she fearedyouwould not want the child.”

“But that’s absurd!”

“That’s what I told her.” Another wet cough burst through the air. I imagined particles of whatever this sickness was floating under the door and circling me.