18. Gallery
When, in the course of his rounds, their seminar instructor confided to Bonnie he had never yet experienced so large a turnout, she had no trouble believing him. She herself had been interacting with visitors seemingly without pause, and was amazed, when she finally had a moment to herself, to realize the event was nearly half-over. Gabby Franklin, having toured the other installations, returned bearing a selection of appetizers on a disposable plate, a flute of chilled white wine, and welcome tidings. "Eat while you have the chance," was her advice. "Who knows when you'll get another? Try one of those teeny crab cakes. Aren't they good?" When Bonnie, her mouth full, nodded emphatically, Gabby went on, "I checked on your auctions. All your paintings have multiple bids with Virginia Cardinal the runaway favorite and Virginia Trout coming in second. I'm rather partial to Virginia Scallop, myself, but the bidding's already beyond the reach of my pocketbook, more's the pity."
Bonnie raised her glass to toast her workmate. "Thank you, Gabby, for the moral support, and for supplying me with food and drink. I was starving, and didn't know it!"
"Well, you better down the rest of that fast. Party of two heading this way."
Some time later, Bonnie was discussing divine proportion and aspect ratios with her cousin Sonny and his wife Adele when she felt a decided yank on her skirt, about hip-high. Glancing down, she saw the up-turned, grinning face of a brown-haired, grey-eyed pixie. "Danny Baer," she gasped, not quite believing her eyes. She dropped down onto her heels before him, and took his narrow shoulders between her hands. "What are you doing here?"
"You invited me," he answered simply.
She had the sudden, horrifying thought that Danny had somehow slipped away from his father and found his way to the gallery on his own, but, looking up, she saw, to her immense relief, Dr. Baer standing a few feet behind his son, watching them together. He had made an effort with his appearance, she noticed: he had foregone his usual attire of limp plaid shirt and khaki pants in favor of a maroon v-neck sweater overlaid by a well-cut tan corduroy suit coat and dark jeans. He had tamed his unruly mane of hair, as well, most likely by a visit to his long-neglected barber. Before she knew it, Bonnie was beaming up at him, and he, after a moment, smiled wryly back.
Adele had come up noiselessly beside her, and bending at the waist, asked Danny kindly, "Are you here to see Bonnie's paintings?" At Danny's quick nod, she straightened. "We've already had our turn, so we'll leave you to it." She waited for Bonnie to rise, then leaned in for a farewell peck on the cheek, and, with a last look that said all too clearly you best believe I will want full details later, collected her husband and drew him away.
"I'm so glad you're here," Bonnie said to Danny, and then more quietly to Dr. Baer when he'd joined them, "Thank you for bringing him."
He regarded her out of the corner of his eye. "Couldn't get a sitter," he deadpanned, only to break into a rueful smile when she shot him a gently-mocking look.
Danny had taken hold of her hand, and was tugging her closer to the wall, but it was immediately apparent the paintings were hung too high for him to see easily. "Hold on, Danny. We're going to need a stepping stool. I'm sure there's one around here somewhere…"
"Don't bother." Dr. Baer scooped Danny up and, raising him to his chest, settled him securely on one forearm. As if by long practice, Danny threaded an arm around his father's neck, hooking himself in place. With their heads so close and inclined ever so companionably one to the other, father and son made as appealing a picture as any on display in the gallery.
Bonnie gestured to her paintings, arranged foursquare on the wall as if to suggest the panes of a window. "I'm curious to know what you see in these paintings, Danny. Shall I give you a hint? These are highly-magnified parts of three animals and one plant that all live in my home state of Virginia. One of them is descended from dinosaurs. Can you tell which one?"
Any other child would have guessed the brook trout on the basis of its scaly skin, but Danny was too much an expert in his chosen field to be fooled. Once he made out that the fine brushstrokes around what appeared to be a black hole were meant to represent feathers, he correctly chose the cardinal. That accomplished, he was swift in identifying the dogwood blossom as the only plant, but needed a few more clues and some help from his father to recognize the sea shell. When all the puzzles had been solved, he pointed to each image in turn, and proudly named its subject.
Bonnie applauded his success. "I have to admit," she said, leaning in confidentially, "I like one of my paintings more than the others."
"Me, too!" Danny piped in his sweet voice.
"I know the one," Dr. Baer said, with exaggerated confidence. "It has to be everyone's favorite. It's… the brook trout!"
"No, Daddy! Wrong! It's the redbird."
"The cardinal," Bonnie nodded in confirmation. "It was my biggest challenge, and the most work."
As if by unspoken accord, they stepped closer to the dramatic red and black canvas. "This is really remarkable work, Miss Booth-Hodgins. Those little tuffs just under the eye and the delicate frond-like feathers are exceptionally fine. You obviously have a very smooth, steady hand. That will serve you well when the time comes for in-painting. What size brush did you use for the plumage?"
"Mostly 000 for the smallest feathers and 00 for the coarser ones farther from the eye."
"And there appears to be just the faintest brown circle within the black."
"Yes, cardinals have a brown iris, which I never suspected before I began this project. I always thought of birds' eyes as little black beads. The eye ring came as a surprise, too."
"Extraordinary. It looks like a circle of tiny grey gems encasing and adorning the eye."
"Yes!" Bonnie was particularly gratified that he appreciated the beauty of this very minor feature. "It's so tiny a detail, it escapes general notice. Which is a shame, because it's really exquisite."
"Well, I for one will never look at a cardinal in quite the same way, which is to say, Miss Booth-Hodgins, that you've achieved every true artist's purpose: to make us see the world with fresh eyes, to remind us that, however much we think we know, there is always more to discover if we take the time to look closely."
Bonnie found she could scarcely breathe, not only from the shock of his praise but from the unwavering look he fixed on her, a look that seemed to invite another, more personal interpretation of his last words. She could not look away; her gaze was trapped in his, her mind ravished by astonishment and wonder. The din of the crowd faded to a faraway murmur; the periphery of her vision narrowed until the passing people and surrounding objects were little more than insubstantial blurs. There remained, finally, at the center of her awareness only the unsounded depths of his dove grey eyes. She could not have said, later, how long she stood mesmerized or how many times her name had been called before she responded. She only knew it was not until she felt the jolt of an arm wrap round her back that the spell was broken.
"Sorry to run so late." Beside her, Trevor appeared somewhat out of breath, his tie loose, his hair lightly disheveled. He planted a quick kiss on her temple and chafed her shoulder reassuringly. "You didn't despair of me, did you, hon? I ducked out of the fundraiser as soon as I could, believe me. So, how've things been going here? Looks like you've had a packed house."
On her other side, Dr. Baer had set Danny back on his feet, and appeared to be waiting only for Trevor to give him an opening to take his leave. "Congratulations again, Miss Booth-Hodgins," he began, but Trevor stayed him by extending a hand.
"Don't rush off on my account. Trevor Wyndham-Pryce."
"Trev," Bonnie said, as Dr. Baer accepted the proffered hand with a marked lack of enthusiasm. "This is Dr. Rudolph Baer, my supervisor at the Jeff, and Danny Baer, fellow illustrator and dinosaur-fanatic."
"Danny. Right! I've heard a lot about you, wonder boy." Trev held out his hand again, but Danny, suddenly shy, shrank away and back against his father's legs. "Okay, then…" Trev forced a smile, and continued with practiced bonhomie, "Good to meet you both."
Dr. Baer acknowledged these civilities with an impassive nod, and turned back to Bonnie. "We really do have to get going." As if to illustrate the necessity, Danny's little face split into a huge, drawn-out yawn. His father smiled down indulgently, and ruffled his hair. "We'll stop by the auction room first, though, and enter a bid on Danny's favorite painting. The brook trout, right, buddy?"
Danny was on to his father by now, and only smiled tiredly at his teasing.
"A word to the wise," Trev said, before the Baers could complete their farewells. He availed himself pointedly of Bonnie's hand and drew her more closely to his side. "I plan to be the high bidder on all of Bonnie's paintings."
"Trev!" Bonnie protested.
"All of them, Mr. Wyndham-Pryce?" Dr. Baer asked evenly. "That strikes me as a bit… excessive. You couldn't be satisfied with, say, two or three?"
A faint flush suffused Trev's pale skin. "The paintings form a suite, and should be kept together. I mean to give them to my father, for his birthday. It's the perfect gift," he said, addressing himself to Bonnie. "The paintings will look great in his office in Richmond."
"They would look great in any number of offices, or homes, for that matter," Dr. Baer interjected, always in the same cool voice.
"Yes, well, you may not be aware that the paintings are all versions of Virginia state emblems…"
"Miss Booth-Hodgins was kind enough to let us in on that little secret, yes."
Trev's grip tightened on her hand, and the muscle in his jaw flexed as he clenched his teeth. "And, as such, they will make an especially appropriate present from my father who has served Virginia as a state legislator for most of his career."
"Ah, yes: Trenton Wyndham-Pryce." Dr. Baer nodded his recognition. "I believe I've voted for his opponent several times over the years."
Trev breathed in sharply, but, fortunately for all concerned, Danny chose that moment to pull at the hem of his father's suit coat and look up at him plaintively. "All right, buddy, up you go." Dr. Baer suited action to words, and when Danny was snuggled securely against his chest, he said, "Thanks for the warning, Wyndham-Pryce, but we're not so easily discouraged, Danny and I. We'll take our best shot. See you Monday, Miss Booth-Hodgins." With that, he turned on his heel and walked away. From over his shoulder, Danny, his head resting heavily against his father's neck, waved a brief goodbye.
When they had disappeared from sight, Trev released Bonnie's hand, and scrubbed his face wearily. "God, I'm sorry," he said, on a sigh. "Bad show on my part. I let him get to me."
Bonnie could not approve Trev's behavior, but she had been on the receiving end of Dr. Baer's condescension enough to sympathize with his feelings. She patted his shoulder lightly. "Don't take it to heart. He rubs most people the wrong way. That's how he is."
"Yeah?" Trev did not seem in the least comforted. The bright blue of his eyes was shadowed, his expression grim. "I saw, you know. The way he looked at you."
Bonnie's heart began to pound, her breathing grew too shallow. "Looked at me? Dr. Baer?" She attempted a light laugh, but it rang hollow in her ears. "That's… ridiculous."
"I know what I saw, Bonnie. He's interested in you, and it's not purely professional. You don't see it, because you never do. You're totally blind to the effect you have on men, and that only makes you more attractive. All it would take is a little encouragement from you, and most men would fall gladly at your feet."
Bonnie smothered a smile at so flattering a delusion. "I'm not so much oblivious as you are seeing things that aren't there. Take it from me: Dr. Baer is the last man on earth to fall for me, gladly or otherwise."
He searched her eyes, still troubled. "And what about you?"
"Trev…" Bonnie held his gaze, wanting at this moment only to soothe him as honestly as possible. "Dr. Baer is my immediate superior. We work together. Anything… romantic… in nature would be entirely inappropriate."
Trev inhaled deeply, and let the air out on a long, slow breath. "Right. You're right. I'm an idiot. But that's what love does, don't they say? Make a fool of us all?" He crooked a half-smile, and, leaning in, stole a quick kiss. "I'd better head off and get my bids in. Can't lose those paintings now. Matter of honor."
With his departure, Bonnie had a moment to gather herself and look about her. The gallery halls was nearly deserted now, with only a few stragglers wandering in her immediate area. She remembered all at once her Grammy A's mysterious delegate and knew a moment's disappointment at having missed him (or her), if indeed the person had bothered to come. Just then, a woman hurried toward her, but it proved to be only Gabby, returning yet again. "I thought you'd left a while ago!"
"What, and miss the great reveal? I may not have a dog in the fight, but I love the excitement of a good auction. Your paintings are still doing very well, by the way. Oh, and you'll never guess who I saw in the auction room! Dr. Baer and his little boy! Color me amazed! He never turns out for events like this."
"Maybe if people made a point of inviting him, he would."
"Trust me: he gets invitations aplenty. No, the man's practically a recluse. Oh! D'you hear that? It's time. They're going to announce the winners."
Bonnie and Gabby were able to squeeze into the auction room, but so many people had remained in the expectation of having their name called as high bidder that there was no hope of snagging a seat. The program co-ordinator led off with the exhilarating news that all forty of the paintings on offer had found a purchaser, a few for record prices. To add spice to the proceedings, he announced, the results of the most-contested auctions would be held until the end. The first twenty or so results were read in random order; Bonnie's Virginia Dogwood, won by Trev, was part of this group. The remaining twenty winners were revealed beginning with the lowest realized price. Bonnie was gratified to learn that Virginia Scallop had placed sixteenth and Virginia Trout twelfth; both, upon payment, would belong to Trev. There was only Virginia Cardinal to listen for now, and, as the numbers slowly ticked down without her painting being named, Bonnie's nervous excitement rose to near-nauseating proportions. It didn't seem possible that a work of hers could have cracked the top five, but then, four and three and two were all called, and there was only her painting left.
"The painting to have garnered the greatest number of bids and the highest selling price in the history of the fine arts seminar gallery exhibition is Bonnie Booth-Hodgin's Virginia Cardinal. Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to the winner of this outstanding work of art." Here the co-ordinator paused for drama's sake: "Madame Rosalie Vincent, Marquise de Sancerre."