Josh POV
So I hired myself an assistant. I know, I know, not something unusual
for the Senior Political Director of a national campaign to do. The
only thing is she's not officially on staff with the campaign. I'm
paying her out of my own pocket.
Yes that is a bit insane to answer your unspoken question. Can you
please shut your mouth now?
Good, that's better.
I'm not so much worried about the money as this weird feeling I'm
getting. I'm not sure what it is, I'm not sure where it's coming
from. I should explain this better. Here's how it went.
I was standing in my office doorway watching this blond woman on my
phone, reading my daytimer and discussing meeting assignments with
whomever was on the other end of the phone.
I was immediately enthralled with this woman. Her grace and her poise
stopped me in my tracks. After I watched her closely, I saw her
ability to multi-task is incredible. She hung up the phone and I
asked,
"Who are you?"
"Donna Moss"
And so began an interview of monumental proportions. As we made our
way around the office, I've figured out that while she went to
college, she's also had multiple majors, did not graduate and has no
visible political acumen. She can keep up with me, though, at least
for now. For now, that is enough.
The whole college drop out-no political acumen point of fact led us
to a series of back and forth questions which at first she swore were
too personal but eventually began to answer. From my questions and
her answers, I gleaned that she had left a bad relationship with a
guy who was using her to support him.
"Your boyfriend was older than you?"
I had asked and to which I got a song and dance about how that's
personal too. I mentioned she was just in my office reading my
daytimer and answering my phones while hoping the entire time I
wouldn't notice. I stare at her carefully and ask again,
"Your boyfriend was older?"
"Yes"
"Lawyer?"
I was certain it had to be a lawyer; it's just crafty enough for a
lawyer. Made it sound like a business deal I bet.
Bastard.
Where was I, oh yeah she answered and it wasn't the answer I thought
it would be but I quickly recovered.
"Medical Student."
"And the idea was that you'd drop out and pay the bills till he was
done with his residency."
"Yes" she answered me so softly; I knew it brought back horrible
memories. I watched her shrink into her self and I had an
overwhelming urge to hug her.
Oh geez, enough with the looks, I *can* be sympathetic you know!
I didn't of course. Hug her that is.
Having hit the nail on the head we appeared in the doorway of my
office.
I called him Dr. Freeride and while she doesn't want to give in and
admit I was completely right, I saw a twinkle in her eyes. I told her
all about how a campaign wasn't a place to find your self confidence
and she practically blew me away with the force of her return
comment,
"Why not? Why *can't* it be those things?"
I stared at her for a moment, dumbfounded. Then I spoke,
"Because…"
Yep, 760 verbal and I come up with `because' as my reason. Then she
does it again; she gets under my skin with her answer,
"What, is it going to interfere with my typing?"
We argued a bit about who else is not making the trip to South
Carolina tomorrow and how I couldn't carry her. Truth be told, I
could carry her but I wanted to see her response, I wanted to see if
the grit was there. I was pleasantly pleased when I found it was,
"I'll pay my own way."
"With what?" Come on, you knew I had to ask.
"I'll sleep on the floor, I'll sell my car. Eventually you're going
to put me on salary."
Gently I said her name, for some reason inexplicable to even me, I
didn't want to be another man who hurt her,
"Donna…"
Her response takes my breath away,
"Look, I think I might be good at this. I think you might find me
valuable."
We stared at one another while the phone rang and she looked to me
for direction.
"Go ahead" I told her and watched her pick up the phone to answer.
As she was speaking to the caller, something in me fell into place. I
had to have her around me. I might not know the strange feeling in my
gut but I knew enough to know I couldn't let her go.
So I took my badge from around my neck and handed it to her while she
was on with the caller. She took it from me and smiled a thousand
watt smile I hope to see for a very long time.
I headed off to my next meeting thinking about Donna. I wish I could
have explained that feeling in the pit of my stomach. I decided that
I wasn't going to pester Leo about putting her on salary just yet. I
wanted him and the rest of the staff to see what she could do and
then I'd talk to him. In the interim I had made the choice to call my
father and have him wire some money from my trust into my checking
account. It would be money well spent.
After the meeting I made my way back to my office, calling for Donna
as I went. She didn't answer, my thoughts abound,
`Hmm. Did she leave already? I mean I've got a reputation for driving
volunteers and interns away but this would even be a record for me.'
Eventually I saw her head pop out of my office door and we had
another rapid fire back and forth conversation. I got the feeling
this was going to be a common occurrence with Donna.
Back to my point, sorry I'm on a bus to South Carolina and my mind
wanders.
So… I tell her that I got her on the South Carolina trip and she can
bunk with Margaret. I also told her that if I didn't see her the rest
of the day that she should be at the campaign office for 6am to be on
the bus.
My meeting later that evening with the senior campaign staff led my
hiring excursion to be discovered. I told Leo I was paying her out of
pocket and that it would ensure my office and my things will be
organized. I emphasized that Donna's presence will guarantee I won't
be late to any more meetings. Leo acquiesces and dismissed us. I was
grateful for the reprieve.
That brings us to the present time. I'm sitting on the bus next to
Donna. She's reading me note cards on the first of three reports I'll
need to be familiar with while in South Carolina. I still say I'm not
remotely awake, but her voice is calm as she explains the salient
points. I can't read on a moving bus and this would have had to be
done when we got to Charleston. I'd have been extremely late and
quite far behind if that had happened. Donna's initiative to make the
cards as well as her willingness to read the cards to me puts me
ahead of the curve. She is proving to be as she said, quite valuable.
The world outside the bus windows is waking up. Each mile the bus
drives the brighter the sky becomes and the more enthusiastic Donna's
voice sounds. I don't know if she's excited about Charleston or the
campaign. Either way, it is infectious. I look over at her and can't
help but smile.
I remember feeling as she does now. I remember the look on her face
as one of being on a journey that will take you far beyond yourself
and help change the course of history. It's part of why I went into
politics. I know the look on her face mirrored my own all those years
ago. She's speaking softly so she won't disturb the other riders. Her
voice is soft and wraps around you with warmth akin to a comforting
blanket. I can feel myself drifting off to sleep.
As my eyes slide shut Donna tells me something about the percentage
of voters in the 21-34 year old demographic. She must notice my eyes
have closed as I feel Donna fixing my jacket over me, her hand
resting against my shoulder just a second longer than it should. I
instinctively turn towards her and as I cross from awake to asleep
the unfamiliar emotion that I've been wrestling with since I saw her
in my office that first moment, now becomes clear.
I'm falling in love with my assistant.