"It was running for office. I'd been stuffing envelopes, passing out campaign literature as a volunteer since I was twelve. I fell in love with the idea of campaigns and the intricacies of issues and getting your guy to win."

It was new to him, meeting someone with politics as her passion. He found he enjoyed it. There was depth to her knowledge of issues that he admired, and more than once he had gotten her to debate with equal fervor both sides of the same issue. She worked very hard to understand the point and counterpoints to an issue. It was a work ethic he really admired. "When did you start writing speeches?"

"I'd see campaign flyers, and think they didn't get the message across. So I'd rewrite them. I'd listen to John give speechesl he would ask what I thought, so I'd tell him. I would quote back what worked and what didn't.

Anne finally hired me. I fell in love with the job."

"A self-starter."

"Or at least able to indulge a passion."

"You're fortunate. Your passion became your career."

"Yes." Shari agreed, but her eyes shifted away as she said it. Marcus noted the unspoken qualification she made. Something to figure out here, he noted, and tucked it away to think about.

"Do you still enjoy it?"

"Most of the time." She grimaced. "Except when I'm under deadline and the speech isn't working." She held up the pages. "Like this one." "I