Fateful Lightning: A New History of the Civil War & Reconstruction by Allen Guelzo (self help books to read TXT) 📕

visceral on the big screen. He was pleased for Nia as the audience ‘ohhed’ and ‘ahhed’ appreciatively. She squeezed his hand hard when her nude scene began.

“Love those giant, perky boobs,” he whispered into her ear.

She squeezed his hand again and he squeezed back.

After the film’s credits had rolled and the theatre’s lights returned, Nia along with four other members of cast and crew took to the stage for a Q and A session. They were seated on comfy chairs around a low table. Generously filled wine glasses were placed on the table. The academic who now served as the Q&A moderator had clearly developed a bit of a crush on Nia and directed the majority of questions to her. Tom thought Nia looked simply stunning sitting up the stage. He could tell from her accent that she was excited and the more excited she became, the more Welsh she sounded. Nia enjoyed the experience, she felt Tom’s support from the seats, and noticed his big grin, she felt freed somehow and was animated, funny, and charming and less guarded than usual. The crowd responded approvingly. Nia got a standing ovation when she left the stage.

Tom re-joined Nia for drinks in the spacious private bar artfully decorated for Christmas. The bar was crowded with the guests and patrons. Jane emerged from the crowd and grabbed Nia by the elbow and pulled her along as she worked the crowd of old acquaintances and industry professionals. There was lots of fake cheek kissing and loud ‘dahlings’. Tom instinctively stepped back to the edge of the room where he had sightlines to areas of ingress and egress and he felt more comfortable in a position where he could have eyes on the crowd. Nia’s friend, Constance, came and stood next to him. She was already buzzed.

“Not comfortable Tom?” she asked with a slight slur.

“No, I’m fine. Enjoying the moment,” he smiled. “Nia’s moment.”

Constance leant into Tom.

“Nia’s looking really good, tonight,” she said. “I think you’re good for her.”

He nodded not sure what other response to make.

“You know that she’s been hurt badly, that we all love her and want to protect her, right?” Constance asked.

Tom nodded slightly. “Aren’t they the same, love and protection?” he asked.

Constance swayed a little.

“Yes,” she answered.

“Then I’d like to try to protect her too,” Tom said.

Nia joined them before Constance could respond. Nia grabbed Tom by the hand and held it down at her side. Constance excused herself to step outside for a smoke.

“Tom, come and meet my oldest friend, Jane,” Nia said.

As Tom and Nia made their way through the crowd, an actor came up to Nia and gave her an intimate hug and kissed her full on the lips.

“Nia darling, so nice to see you out and about. We must catch up some time,” he held her hands and stepped back clearly appraising her. “Fabulous dress and that body, you’ve been working out. Someone’s a lucky guy.”

He winked at Tom, and with another kiss on Nia’s lips, he was gone, absorbed into the adjacent crowd. Nia looked at Tom nervously, “Don’t worry,” she whispered in his ear. “He’s gay.”

“Oh, really? Figured that,” Tom said.

Nia finally joined Jane again. Jane was wearing a dinner jacket with a white silk scarf and white owl glasses.

“Nia darling, the room’s abuzz. You’ve been brilliant, you clever girl,” Jane greeted her with a real kiss on the cheek. “And, you look absolutely fucking fabulous.”

Jane turned to Tom. Nia introduced them.

Jane smiled at Tom, “Nice to meet you. Have heard a good bit about you, Major Price. Nia tells me that you are good for her and I must say she has been glowing since she met you.”

Tom wasn’t sure what to say so responded with a simple, “Thank you”.

“Nia’s one of my closest friends,” said Jane whose demeanour had become matronly. “And if you ever hurt her, I will have your balls.” She smiled with phoney sweetness.

“She’s just joking,” Nia said.

“No, I’m not,” Jane responded without the smile.

“In that case then, I will endeavour to keep my balls out of your hands,” Tom said.

Jane laughed, “You do that young man. You just do that.”

Jane turned to Nia, who was still slightly in shock, “Nia, there’s someone here I’d like you to meet. They were very impressed with your performance tonight…” Jane grabbed Nia by the hand and moved her on to another group.

Tom stood there alone with a glass of indifferent champagne in his hand. He watched as people and groups moved and interchanged like dance partners. Tom caught Constance’s eye in another group clustered around a high table. There was Orla with her arm around an unnaturally pale, tall, thin woman in a slinky dress that purposefully exposed a significant amount of side boob. Talking to the side-boobed woman was a face he half recognised. He knew he had seen the face before and trolled his memory for context. When no context emerged, he moved close to Constance and gestured for her to join him. When he felt they were out of earshot of Orla’s group, he subtly nodded to the mysterious man and asked Constance whether she knew him. Constance stared at the man for a moment, then told Tom that she didn’t recognise him. Seeing the concern on Tom’s face, Constance said she would find out. She artfully moved towards a waiter with a tray of drinks and was soon absorbed into the group where Tom’s man stood. Tom grabbed a fresh champagne from the itinerant waiter and watched as Constance chatted with Orla, Orla’s companion, and then exchange a few words and a polite smile with the mysterious man. Tom made some painful small talk with a Czech art director while waiting for Constance to circle back. Tom excused himself from the art director as