Divya rallies: Would Seema consider coming down to the South Bay and doing a minisession at one of her fundraisers? Not really training volunteers, since most of the big-shot donors have no time for volunteering, but it would make them feel more involved in the campaign, and perhaps more generous. She is matter-of-fact: money doesn’t buy votes but does buy staff, organizers, airtime, office space, and equipment, in more states, so they can expand the electoral map. And while small donors are important, what she does—maximizing contributions of those capable of giving more—is what will make a difference. It’s the reason why Obama declined taxpayer financing, breaking his promise.

At least Divya, unlike Bill, is clear-eyed about the campaign’s gyrations. Seema says she’ll think about it, and Divya takes her number.

“I’ve got to get back. My ex just got married.” Divya rolls her eyes, as if she’d prefer to have stayed out here, then the dimple again, a look and smile held an instant too long, eyelashes lowered. Her voice drops into intimacy, conspiracy, as she turns to leave: “I’ll be calling you.”

Seema can’t help but admire the finesse. She’s not surprised Divya is successful. The girl is a smooth operator, the flattery and the flirting and the networking meshed so effortlessly, only a hardened cynic would think to call her out. And the information conveyed subtly at the end about her queer ex and the signaling of her interest and availability—does Divya know about Seema’s past?

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, to see Divya now and be reminded of her self from a decade ago. What happened to all that pride and promise? The belief that she had all the power, all the answers, and all the fire and beauty to pull it off? She’d taken a wrong turn somewhere.

Why had she once thought this day impossible? She’s missed being part of something momentous while she’d turned her attention elsewhere. And now she’s too late to the party and not even invited.

She’d been considering volunteering for the No-On-Prop-8 campaign, another reason for rejoining her firm in San Francisco. But now she feels she neither belongs nor is needed there. “Come in and get engaged!” the campaign’s tent screams, with a steady flow of Pride-goers bustling in and out.

Later, she doesn’t tell Bill where they met—he had sulked at the mere mention of her plan to attend Pride with Fiaz—only that she’d been introduced to Divya and is considering joining in her South Bay fundraising activities. Bill is encouraging, assuaged, she suspects, that she’s found something to get involved in other than No-On-Prop-8. If he’s curious about Divya, he hides it pretty well.

22

One major benefit of fundraising with Divya: Seema no longer has to deal with the Obamabots—the young, enthusiastic, mostly college-educated, mostly White Americans who’ve been jumping onto the bandwagon as summer progressed, all believing Obama to be their savior, a source of redemption.