Chapter 3
As Valentine's Day approached, Jack Hodgins sat in his lab, pondering what to give Angela to mark the day. He'd given her phosphorescent shrimp spelling out "I Love You" one year, $3000/oz perfume another year, and jewelry several times. He rolled himself into the glass-lined corridor of the lab which led to her office. Stopping short of entering, he watched her draw, absorbed in a sketch. Several small easels surrounded her, each holding a drawing of their son engaged in various activities. He loved her ability to capture Michael Vincent on paper; his exuberant spirit radiating from each of her sketches. Suddenly, an idea struck him. Expertly reversing the direction of his wheelchair, he headed for Jessica Warren-Aubrey's work area.
The red-headed intern had recently returned from her honeymoon with Aubrey. The couple had spent two weeks in France and gone to Paris for a Ferrandi School of Culinary Arts pastry seminar, renowned since 1920. His Angie loved the Eifel Tour, Aubrey relished the gastronomic excellence demonstrated at 28 Rue de l'Abbé Grégoire. The agent had even baked his own wedding cake.
"What's up, Curly?" Jessica asked.
"Can you come to my lab for a minute?" he asked quietly. Once there, he motioned for her to shut the door. "Could you help me with a project for Angela? I want to copy her sketches of Michael and bind them into a book for her. I need you to scan them after she's gone home for the evening, or maybe on Tuesday while we're at the doctor's office for my evaluation."
"Sure, I can do that. Do you only want the ones in her office, or the ones she's framed at your home?"
"Actually, I have copies of the earlier ones in my desk. She wanted them archived here, in case our house was ever attacked like Booth's Mighty Hut was. She stored a set in Dr. B's basement vault, too. If you can scan the newer ones from her office and download the ones I have onto a flash drive, I can take them to the printer on Friday. You think three days is enough time for you?"
"I'll let Dr. Saroyan know what you have in mind, so I can do the scanning while you're at the hospital. That way, Angela won't find out what you're up to," Jessica suggested. "Cam's romantic enough, I don't think she'll begrudge us a little downtime, considering what you've been through. Angela will love your gift, Curly. It's perfect."
Oooooooooooooooooooo
Booth stopped writing his report and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. "Angela, I need some help for Valentine's Day. Could you take Bones to lunch some day this week, so I can get to the lingerie shop? She gets suspicious if I don't meet her at the diner every day; and I need a diversion."
"I'll ask her for tomorrow. There's a new vegan bodega on K Street we can try. Don't go to Karen's Intimates this time, Booth," Angela cautioned. "It's too close to the diner; she could run into you on the way back to the lab. Go to L'Intimité pour Toujours et à Jamais; it just opened in Georgetown and has some lovely things. The owner's name is Marie Toussaint; I'll let her know you're coming."
"That's a mouthful of French; what's it mean?" Booth asked.
"Intimacy Forever and Always," Angela responded.
"Oh, brother, that's hokey."
"Hey, Buddy, if it works, don't knock it. Bren will love anything you select for her there!"
"Okay, you're the expert! Thanks, Angela, I owe you."
"Don't you know it, Booth; never fear, I'll collect one of these days."
The following afternoon, Booth left Madame Toussaint's shop with a lavender shopping bag and a wide smile. Angela had given him expert advice. The delightful New Orleans native had suggested a royal blue lingerie set which would complement Brennan's azure eyes to perfection. (And her delicious figure as well.) Returning to his office, he closed the blinds, opened his safe, slipped the small velvet box from Zales into the lavender bag, and secured the entire gift before relocking the safe.