The Midnight Call
“Despite being written about so often Rachel R. Heil has created a Titanic story that is new, interesting, and worth not just one read but many, many re-reads.” – Goodreads user
April 1912.
Helen Harrington has aspirations of being a schoolteacher, a dream shattered by the untimely death of her mother, an event that she blames herself for. To support her younger siblings, Helen abandons her fantasy and appeals to her mother’s former employer, White Star Line, for their help in securing work. Begrudgingly, White Star appoints her to a new stewardess position on the line’s newest ship, the RMS Titanic. Filled with insecurities and regret, Helen does not look forward to the voyage and the responsibilities that come with it until she crosses paths with a fellow crew member.
Having risen steadily up the company ladder, John Phillips is pleased to find himself appointed as the Titanic’s senior wireless operator. Phillips expects an uneventful voyage, but when he meets a young stewardess, he begins to question everything he had thought was right. As Titanic steams towards disaster, Phillips finds himself in an impossible situation. But when given a chance to escape it, will he take it or give his life for others?
Blending fiction and historical fact, The Midnight Call tells the story of one of the Titanic’s most critical tales of bravery, courage, and sacrifice.
Excerpt
Moody opened his mouth to beg her not to when he looked down the deck. “John!”
Helen followed his gaze and spotted a man leaning against the railing, smoking a cigarette.
As Moody charged forward, the man turned his face to them, causing Helen to falter in her steps. It was the man from a few nights before, the one she had been unable to remove her eyes from until she forced herself to trot away. She recalled examining his arms and began to feel hot despite the cool temperature. Maintaining her composure, she slowly joined them.
Speaking excitedly, Moody leaned against the railing. “You are working this ship now?”
“Can you believe it?” The man laughed, sliding the cigarette in his mouth.
“Not alone, I imagine.”
“No.” The man shook his head before casting a hand toward the door Helen had seen him come out of the first night she had seen him. “My partner is working the wireless.”
“How marvelous,” Moody mused.
The man craned his neck to see Helen, who stood several steps away. He smiled, and she felt strands of hair that had fallen out of her bun beginning to stick to her skin.
“Hello, ma’am.” He nodded to her.
Moody swung around. “I’m sorry, Helen. I completely forgot about you when I saw John.” He pivoted back to his friend. “John, this is Helen Harrington, our stewardess. Helen, this is our senior wireless operator, John Phillips.”
Apprehensively, she moved forward, hoping she wasn’t too red. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Phillips.”
He tipped his cap at her, which was white at the top, black in the middle and bottom, and had a golden “M” stitched on the front. “You as well, Miss Harrington.”
“John was on the Oceanic with me,” Moody elaborated. “Great pal and operator.”
“You’re too gracious.”
Though Phillips spoke to Moody, he had not removed his gaze from Helen, which caused her to direct her attention toward the ocean. Why was he staring at her?
Stealing a glance again, Helen saw him toss his cigarette into the water. “It was good to see you, Jim, but I must head back inside. I’m afraid my companion has allowed himself to be overwhelmed by the whole experience.”
Moody laughed. “Feeling a bit overwhelmed myself!”
Phillips grinned before nodding to Helen. “Pleasure to see you again, Miss Harrington.”
Again? He remembered her. As if to assure Helen, Phillips stared a moment longer before retiring to the wireless shack.
Moody turned to Helen. “You’ve met John before?”
Body burning, Helen removed her shawl and draped it over her arm. “Briefly. I didn’t even know who he was.”
She was embarrassed to admit it. A sensible person would have brought it up during the conversation.
“Ah.” Moody seemed content with the answer. “Well, very good then. Shall we continue?”
Helen followed Moody’s lead but as she passed the door Phillips had disappeared through, she instinctively looked back, fixated on the man inside.
