The Midwife's Dilemma by Delia Parr

drapes were tied back, allowing sunlight to pour through a single window. Directly ahead, a large trunk rested on bare floorboards at the foot of a double bed, and a small washstand to her left held a cracked, flowery basin and a pitcher for water.
    She focused her attention, however, on the coverlet on the bed. The quilt was a bit faded now and well-worn, but the beautyof the design and the workmanship required to create the quilt still testified to the unique talent her mother had been given.
    â€œI love this quilt, too,” Aunt Hilda said. She sat down on the bed and patted the space next to her. “Your mother had quite a talent for the needle. I think of her every time I make my bed.”
    Martha sat down and traced some of the stitches with her fingertips. “She used to make cradle quilts that Grandmother Poore would give to the new mothers after delivering their babes, too. Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit a bit of her talent.”
    â€œTalents are God-given, although we make up our own minds about whether or not we use them,” Aunt Hilda cautioned. “Even though we might be related to someone, that doesn’t always mean we share the same talents.”
    â€œI know,” Martha said as more memories brought the past into the present.
    Aunt Hilda sighed. “I know how disappointed Sarah was when your mother didn’t continue family tradition by becoming a midwife and that you’re just as disappointed with your daughter. But you need to remember what a gifted writer Victoria is instead. And remember, too, that God always finds a way to bring us joy, even in the midst of our sorrows and disappointments. In your grandmother’s case,” she continued, “that was you, Martha. You brought her such joy by following in her footsteps.”
    â€œUnfortunately, I don’t have a granddaughter to do that for me—not that it matters much anymore,” Martha replied, quickly confiding her decision to give up her calling and marry Thomas as soon as she did.
    â€œYou’ll find someone,” Aunt Hilda insisted and put her arm around Martha’s shoulder. “Just keep in mind that God likes to surprise us now and again. You might find a new midwife in the most unlikely of places,” she said. “Speaking of surprises,I have one of my own to share with you, but you must promise not to say a word about it, not even to Victoria.” Aunt Hilda hugged Martha a little closer. “It seems that my dear darling husband still has a yearning for travel in his soul. He’s planning to leave again in a few weeks.”
    Caught completely off guard, Martha eased out of her aunt’s embrace and turned to search her face. Instead of the grief or sorrow she expected to see etched there, or perhaps a stream of silent tears, Aunt Hilda’s countenance radiated sheer joy. Her eyes, however, were oddly mischievous. “You’re not upset?”
    â€œNot in the least,” her aunt insisted. “I can’t decide if I’m a bit daft or not, but this time I’m going with him.”
    Martha gasped. “You’re . . . you’re leaving?”
    Aunt Hilda grinned. “Rather exciting, isn’t it?”
    â€œWhere are you going?”
    A shrug. “Probably west, at least at first. Richard has a few places he wants to show me. After that, we’ll discover a few new ones together.”
    â€œAre you absolutely certain you want to give up everything you have here in Trinity? How can you be sure that this is what you want to do?”
    Aunt Hilda smiled. “Because I trust that God wouldn’t put the desire to leave with my husband in my heart and make it possible for me to go if He had other plans for me.”
    Envious of her aunt’s faith, Martha took one of her aunt’s hands and held on to the last living link she had to her mother and grandmother. “But you’re my rock! What will I do without