Eve Moore appears to have an ideal life: a lovely home, two grown children, and a husband who is a good provider. As the years go by, her husband's alcoholism escalates, and he becomes abusive. When Eve tells him she wants to go back to work, he feels threatened. After a violent episode, she packs a bag and leaves. Eve meets Patrick O'Malley, a kindly man who becomes the brother she never had. He helps her to resume her nursing career that she set aside so many years before. One day Patrick disappears from her life with no explanation. Eve is devastated, but, with determination and the help of friends, she picks up the threads of her existence and weaves them into a comfortable lifestyle. Ten years later, Patrick calls. Living 300 miles from Eve and gravely ill, he wants to see her. They rekindle their relationship, but on a different level. Through Patrick, Eve meets Paul Connors, a retired psychologist. They fall in love, but neither is willing to give up their individual lifestyle. Patrick dies soon after, giving them his blessing. Can Eve and Paul sustain a meaningful long distance relationship? Does their love transcend the limits of space? Is any love deep enough?
About Helen Macie Osterman
Helen Osterman lives in a suburb of Chicago. She has five children and nine grandchildren. She received a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Mercy Hospital-St. Xavier College. Years later, she earned a Master's Degree from Northern Illinois University. Throughout her forty-five year nursing career, she wrote articles for both nursing and medical journals, In 2009, Notes in a Mirror, a paranormal/historical, was published by Weaving Dreams Publishing. She is also the author of the Emma Winberry Mystery series. Helen is a member of The American Association of University Women, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.
The Irish Pub sat on a neighborhood street in Cicero, a nearby suburb. But there was nothing ordinary about the place. It was noisy, smoky, and reeked of cabbage. As we walked in, people called to Patrick and slapped his shoulder. I stepped into a world of Irish music, pints of beer, and lilting brogues. A pretty red-haired girl sidled up to us, flashing a captivating smile. She wore a peasant style blouse with a full skirt cinched with a wide green belt at her tiny waist. "The special of the day is corned beef and cabbage, your favorite, Patrick. Shall I dish you up two servings?" Patrick looked at me. I nodded, and the girl floated away swaying her hips just enough to turn heads. "A charmer, that Maureen, she's the owner's daughter," Patrick explained as he pulled a chair out for me. "She flirts with all the customers. It's good for business you know. But let one man lay a hand on that lovely body and Duffy would throw him out before he knew what was happening. Ah, here he comes now, the man himself." A middle-aged, florid-faced man came up to the table carrying two pints of beer dripping thick foam down the sides. Bulging biceps, a nose broken too many times, and hands thick and scarred gave him a no nonsense look. The muscles of his neck and chest were so overdeveloped that even his shirt stretched tight. An unlit cigar protruded from thin lips that spread into a welcoming smile as blue-green eyes twinkled in the Irish face. "Drink up, Patrick. And one for the lady, on the house." "Thanks, Duffy. This is my friend, Eve. I want you to give her special service whenever she comes in here." I found myself blushing as the big man bowed over my hand in mock obeisance. "Your wish is my command, fair lady. And if this Irish buffoon doesn't treat you right, report to me. I'll set him straight." I laughed as Duffy winked at me and squeezed Patrick's hand in a gesture of long term friendship. "He's a great guy," Patrick said watching his friend saunter off to greet another customer. "Give you the shirt off his back if you needed it." "It wouldn't fit too many people," I said sizing up those muscles. "He did some professional boxing in the old days. Was pretty good at it, too, until one night he killed a man in the ring." He held up his hand to avoid any questions. "I don't want you to hold that against him; it wasn't deliberate. The fellow had a weak artery in his head. When Duffy hit, the thing burst. He was dead before the doctor even got to him." A look of pain skirted Patrick's face. "Duffy never got over it. He hung up the gloves and never fought again." Patrick took a long pull on his beer, sighed, wiped his hand across his mouth, and sat back. "That tastes good," he said. I sipped the beer. It wasn't my favorite beverage, but this had a mellow biting taste that was pleasant on my tongue. "You don't sip beer, my dear. You sip brandy and whiskey. Beer is meant for gulping. Go on, take a nice big swallow." He smiled as I gripped the sweating pint with both hands. "Like this?" I tipped my head back, filled my mouth with the foamy brew, and swallowed hard. "Just like that." He laughed as he wiped the foam off my upper lip with his napkin. "Now here comes our dinner." The smell of the succulent cabbage made my mouth water. I hadn't realized how hungry I was. "Dig in," Patrick said. "And enjoy."
Blurbs, Endorsements, and Reviews
“With the endearing voice of a master story-teller, Helen Macie Osterman has fashioned one of the most unforgettable love stories in years. From its gripping opening pages, The Song of the Rails sends the indefatigable Eve Moore on a death-defying search for a second life of redemption, friendship, and true love. At once heartbreaking and full of unbridled joy, this powerful novel is a rare inter-generational journey of the brave, of friends and lovers in the final stations of their lives, that all readers, young and old, will cherish."
~ Jeff Biggers, author of Reckoning at Eagle Creek
“Settling into bed at 10:00 p.m. one night, I began a new book. At 5:00 a.m., I finished it! Song of the Rails is a captivating story of rediscovery with a heartwarming romance thrown in. This story grabs you, takes you in, and won't let go until the very last word. Osterman's story makes you believe you can find your passion, life's purpose (and your soul mate), no matter the circumstances or your age. While the journey through life is never a straight road, life offers wonderful little surprises at every twist and turn. Song of the Rails leads us on a journey of self-discovery, and teaches us that we are never too old to fulfill our dreams.”
