47. Fishbowl

If it was stressful treating an invaluable painting in the workroom, Bonnie discovered it was downright nerve-wracking to do so in full view of the public. For the several hours each day she spent in the Conservation Station, only a tempered glass wall separated her from the museum visitors gathered to watch her work. Happily, la Coupe d'amour was positioned in such a way that she sat much of the time with her back three-quarters turned to the spectators, but even so, she was uncomfortably aware of an audience standing only a few feet away, observing her every move. When their gazes felt too weighty or the burble of their voices too loud, she lowered her magnifying head gear and popped in her earbuds, effectively blocking out the sight and sound of them.

The best stretch of the day proved to be the two hours either side of noon when she and Bear were tasked with interacting directly with visitors. While one of them continued at the easel demonstrating the work, the other took questions about the painting and what went into the process of conserving it. Some questions recurred on a regular basis ("It looks like a really hard job. Is it?" and "Where did you learn the skills you need?"), but there was enough of a range, and the interest in her answers was so genuine, Bonnie came to actively enjoy the public-access period. Bear was less enthusiastic, but handled his share of the duties with professional courtesy and even, when dealing with children, an indulgence that no longer surprised Bonnie as much as it once would have.

As promised, Trev dropped in toward the end of the first week, but he was not the first of her friends and family to do so, nor, over the month they occupied the conservation studio, was he the last. Early on, Rosalie Vincent stopped by for her long-awaited glimpse of La Coupe d'amour, and to say her farewells. She was leaving in a matter of days for a series of appearances in New York, Boston and Montreal after which she would return home to France. "Ce n'est qu'un au revoir," she said, when Bonnie had stepped out into the gallery for a private word. "We will meet again in Paris before too long, I feel sure. Perhaps you will make one of the team who accompanies the Lebrun to the Louvre later in the year? If not, then in January, when you take up your Fellowship. Yes, yes! I am more resolved than ever that you shall have it!" She took Bonnie's hands in hers, and, leaning forward, kissed her cheeks in parting. "Good-bye, dear girl. Oh! I must not forget to thank you for sending me that photo of Danny's dinosaur drawing. I am so happy to have it." She cast a long look at her son's cold shoulder, and, with a last fleeting smile, went on her way.

Midweek, with schoolchildren on early-release, the Institute saw a large spike in attendance. Bonnie had been fielding questions from live-wire kids for nearly an hour when Vanna and two small companions joined the crowd standing three-deep at the barrier. At Bonnie's welcoming smile, Vanna grinned broadly and then directed her attention to moving her charges by degrees up to the front. When she had ushered them to the microphone, Vanna urged them to "fire away" and "not be shy" before retreating, herself, to the back of the throng and following the interchange from there.

"That was a real laundry list of questions," Bonnie said, when Vanna phoned her later that evening to thank her for the thorough and thoughtful answers she'd given the girls. "They were very well-prepared!"

"We encourage our girls to make the most of the opportunities that come their way. Did I mention you're Lashonda and Kylee's new role model? No joke! They want to be you when they grow up! They love art and science about equally, and just took it for granted that, when it came to a career, they were going to have to choose one or the other, but meeting you and learning about your work has opened up a world of new possibilities for them. They're so excited."

"That's great to hear. I was impressed with them, too. They're obviously smart, determined girls with a bright future ahead of them."

"Their potential's unlimited, as we like to say. And, speaking of potential…" Vanna waggled her eyebrows playfully. "I couldn't help but notice that hunky guy in the chair behind you. What's the story there? Is he taken?"

This seismic shift in the conversation caught Bonnie so off-guard, she was left for a moment gasping for words. Then, "Dr. Baer? Er… no. He's not with anyone. That I know of. Divorced. Single father." She broke off, took a breath to collect herself, fixed a smile on her face. "Still on the look-out for Mr. Might-Be-Right, Vanna? I thought you already had a solid candidate in view."

Vanna wrinkled her nose in distaste. "He's stuck on one of his gal pals. You know the type: hanging in there on the slim chance the love of his life will wake up one fine morning and finally see him as more than a friend." She rolled her eyes. "Not worth my time. So, how about it?" she went on, skewing up-beat again. "Can I get an introduction?"

"Well… I don't know. I mean, sure, if the occasion presents itself, but, the thing is, I rarely ever see him outside of work, and when we're at the Jeff, he's all business. You know, a nose-to-the-grindstone kind of guy. He's not one for socializing on the job. Or at all, really." True, thankfully; every word.

"Prefers his own company, hunh? Because he's shy, or thinks he's too good for other people? Shy, I can work with." Bonnie, at a loss again, opened her mouth as if to answer but Vanna abruptly shook her head and raised a stilling hand. "You know, never mind. Why borrow trouble, am I right? Plenty of other good-looking fish in the sea. Your cousin Eddie, for one. Is he unattached? You never did say."

"He's not dating that woman you saw him with, that much I know. And I'm sure he'd love to meet you." After all, Vanna was a leggy, blue-eyed blond, Eddie's particular weakness. "It's not always easy to get in touch with him, is all. He's out of town a lot. I should be able to arrange something, though. Let me see what I can do."

"Sounds good. And, listen, while we're on the subject of guys, Trev's probably told you we've been spending a little time together, and I just want to assure you, personally, that there's nothing going on between us. Nada, zilch, zero. It's a strictly casual, buddy-buddy sort of thing. You must know he's completely devoted to you, and anyway, even if he showed some interest — which I'm not saying he has! — I would keep my hands off. It's not my style to poach another girl's man, not under any circumstances. So, I promise, you don't have a thing to worry about!"

Bonnie was touched by Vanna's concern, although the underlying presumption of jealousy irked her. "I appreciate your being upfront with me, Van, but you don't have to be careful of my feelings. If I'd said 'yes' when Trev asked me to marry him, the situation would be different, but, as it stands, whatever claim I may have had on him, I gave up when I turned him down. He's free to see whoever he wants, whenever he wants, without regard to what I think or how I feel. And the same goes for you. You don't owe me any special consideration."

Vanna tilted her head to the side, and regarded her thoughtfully. "I see what you're saying, and your attitude's commendable, but even so, it's important to me that you're fine with this, because if you aren't, I won't see him again, end of story. We haven't know each other very long, Bonnie, but I value your friendship and wouldn't want to lose it over some man."

Bonnie could not contain a grin. "Not even when that man is smokin' hot, and one of D. C.'s top ten most eligible bachelors?"

Vanna grinned back. "Not even then."

After the novelty of the first week, the number of visitors to the Station dwindled, but hardly a day passed without some member of the Booth clan turning up on the other side of the glass wall. Her grandfather and mother surprised her by making the trip in to see her in her "natural habitat," as Christine drolly characterized the cage-like studio. Reese came in with his classmates on their school's yearly field trip, with Annalise riding herd as a parent volunteer. Adele snatched a few minutes from her rotation at the hospital to give Bonnie's performance two thumbs up, and Max and Junior looked in to tease and distract her in time-honored brotherly fashion. One happy day, she thought she spotted Eddie at the back of a tour group, but it proved to be a stranger. She kept an ever-watchful eye out for her elusive cousin, but he never did show, almost as if he knew in that uncanny way of his that she particularly wanted to talk to him about a little favor he might do for her, a favor that involved his agreeing to a blind date.

It was the second Friday afternoon in the Station, just as Bonnie was setting the work area to rights in preparation for closing for lunch that she heard Bear say into the microphone, "We're nearly done here. Give me a few minutes, and then we can talk." Turning in her chair, Bonnie saw a tall blond she did not immediately recognize as Val Dunbar standing in the outer gallery. Hair caught back in a high ponytail, and face largely clear of makeup, Val looked to have made less than her usual effort with her appearance, and was all the more attractive for it. She had dressed down, as well, perhaps too casually, in a velour track suit and designer athletic shoes. Taking her in, Bonnie couldn't help but wonder if Eddie's love of disguise hadn't rubbed off on Val during their short association. She raised a hand in greeting, and was about to return to her straightening, when Val waved eagerly back and motioned her over.

Bear answered her questioning look with a shrug. "Beats me," he said, stepping away from the barrier. "She has something to ask you, she said."

Bonnie took Bear's place at the mike. "Hi, Val! Good to see you. What's up?"

"Bonnie." Val bobbed her head 'hello.' "Been a while…" She attempted a smile, but it was uncertain at best. "Look, I won't beat around the bush. I know it's short notice, but I was really hoping you'd let me buy you lunch."

"Oh!" The invitation was so out of the blue, Bonnie was stuck for a reply. "Today?"

"You don't already have plans, do you?"

"Well, I…"

Val patted the body of her overlarge shoulder bag. "I brought along some drawings Danny made for you. He said to tell you they're ideas for some book you two are working on? About a boy and a dinosaur?" At Bonnie's nod, she hurried on, "Please say you'll come. Just for a quick bite. I've got some news I think you'll find interesting, and… ah… another matter I'd like to discuss with you, too."

Bonnie had the unwelcome suspicion the other 'matter' went by the name of Eddie Booth, but, as Val had cleverly foreseen, the carrot she dangled was too tempting to resist. "I usually grab a salad at the museum café. That suit you?"

It did.