That view always depressed Nealy, even though she was used to it. She knew elected officials who fit the description, but she knew many who didn’t. And couples like the Waynes were America’s bedrock. Was a nation of cynics the best that more than two hundred years of democratic government could produce?

Still, Washington had reaped what it had sown, and she and Dennis had shared dozens of conversations over the years about this very issue. Although Dennis thought she was naive for someone who’d breathed the air of politics since birth, she believed the country was ready for a new species of politician. Sometimes she found herself daydreaming about running for office herself. The first rule she’d follow would be honesty, and if that made her a pariah inside the Beltway, she’d take her cause straight to the people.

Mat moved a knife out of Button’s reach. “You’ve been awfully quiet, Nell. For someone who has opinions about everything, I’m surprised you don’t have any thoughts about politics.”

Oh, she had a million of them, and she’d been biting her tongue ever since the discussion began. Still, she couldn’t resist making one comment. “I do believe a political life can be an honorable one.”

Charlie and Bertis shook their heads, and Mat gave a cynical laugh. “Maybe fifty years ago, but not now.”

Words sprang to her lips, dozens of them. Thousands! An entire speech on patriotism and public duty, complete with quotations from Lincoln, Jefferson, and FDR. Politics could be an honorable profession, and once again the urge to prove that nagged at her.

“Even now,” she said. “We just need a few more courageous politicians.”

They regarded her skeptically, and she had to clamp her mouth shut to keep from saying more.

Everyone pitched in to help with the cleanup, except Button, who was growing cranky from being kept up too late. Nealy had just begun to excuse herself to put the baby to bed when Lucy came out of the Waynes’ motor home. “They have a television,” she reported loftily.

“We like to keep up with the news shows,” Charlie said. “Dateline’s on tonight.”

“We don’t have a television.”

“And you won’t die from it, young lady.” Bertis gave Lucy a hug. “You read a nice book tonight. Something educational.”

“Mat, can I borrow one of your Playboys?”

“You’re such a dickens, Lucy.” Bertis regarded the teenager fondly. “Our Megan would love you.”

Lucy gave a long-suffering sigh but made no effort to disengage herself from Bertis’s grandmotherly arms.

“Now, remember, Nell, you’re going to send over Button’s romper so I can mend the seam while we’re watching Dateline.”

When Button had torn her outfit, Nealy’d had no idea Bertis would volunteer to fix it, and she was embarrassed. “You don’t have to do that. Really.”