The Midwife's Choice by Delia Parr Page A

Ivy suggested.
    â€œNever admit defeat,” Fern added.
    Victoria looked at Martha with hope glistening in her eyes. “Never let mistakes go undone.”
    Touched, Martha placed her hand on top of Victoria’s. “And never forget that life’s troubles or disappointments always contain blessings. They are His gifts to us, His children.”
    Victoria squeezed her mother’s hand.
    Fern stood up and tapped her sister on the shoulder. “Come along. I need you in the shop.”
    Ivy shrugged her shoulders. “The shop’s been closed for an hour. I’ve not finished my supper.”
    Fern tapped Ivy’s shoulder again. “That curtain we hung this morning is crooked. I need you to help me fix it.”
    Ivy rolled her eyes. “Now? Can’t it wait for morning? Martha and Victoria—”
    â€œNeed time together. Alone,” Fern insisted as she urged Ivy from her seat and nodded toward Martha and Victoria. “We’ll be a while, but just leave the dishes. We’ll do them later,” she promised and led Ivy from the room.
    Martha took in a deep breath and looked directly at her daughter. “I’m sorry I overslept. I wanted to speak to you first thing this morning. I was on my way to Dr. McMillan’s to fetch you when I met Mayor Dillon. He said you’d gone out with the doctor and Mrs. Morgan so I didn’t think it would do any harm to spend some time with him. We had some matters to discuss.”
    Victoria blushed, as if she knew her mother had attracted a suitor. “Miss Fern and Miss Ivy told us how busy you’ve been these past few days. You needed your rest.” She dropped her gaze. “I should have come home first, to see if you were awake. I’m sorry.”
    â€œI wasn’t up. Not when you left,” Martha admitted. As curious as she was about where the trio had gone, she was more anxious to end the estrangement with her daughter. “I assume Mrs. Morgan told you we talked.”
    Victoria nodded, but kept her gaze focused on her lap, where her hands lay, trembling.
    â€œWell, there’s nothing to be gained by waiting. I may as well tell you I’ve made my decision about your future. All I expect is that you will abide by my decision and respect my authority, whether or not my decision is to your liking. I’ll also have no more ultimatums or tantrums. And no threats to run away again, either. Whatever problems you have with my decision, we’ll discuss here and now and settle, once and for all.”

9
    M artha waited with bated breath. Her mouth went dry. Her heart began to race faster. Victoria’s willingness to accept Martha’s authority was crucial and would spell whether the path their relationship would follow would be rocky or smooth. She would have felt a lot better if she had been able to talk this over with Aunt Hilda first, but Martha could not wait and simply had to rely on her own ability to handle this as best she could.
    Victoria toyed with a curl that draped over her shoulder. Pale pink blushed her cheeks. She lifted her gaze, moistened her lips, and nodded ever so slightly.
    Heartened, Martha took a deep breath and tried to remember all she had written in the daybook she had been preparing for Victoria before the fire at the tavern rendered the book a pile of ashes. It had been easier to write down her feelings. Expressing them face-to-face was so much harder.
    But necessary.
    â€œFirst,” she began, “I don’t approve or in any way condone what you did, running off with that band of misfits.”
    Victoria paled.
    â€œWhat you did was wrong. Pure and simple. You put yourself at great risk, young lady, and only the grace of God protected you. I was more frightened than you will ever know, until you have babes of your own.”
    Victoria’s bottom lip quivered. “I think I know. Now. And I’m . . . I’m sorry. I told you