Chapter 20Despite the inauspicious (or, possibly, highly auspicious, depending on how you looked at it) start to the day, the three young curators’ presentation on the Bencliffe Bowl was well attended and well received. Even better, nobody asked awkward or embarrassing questions. Although their debt to her had long since been repaid, Xander and Alex treated Gisella to lunch to thank her for her collaboration.
The Browne-White-Bencliffes spent New Year’s Eve at 998 Fifth Avenue, toasting each other and the future. Alex and Xander stayed at each other’s side for most of the evening, moving in tandem from one member of their family to another, helping in the kitchen and making sure that Thomas and Emily joined in as much as they wanted to.
There was, inevitably, talk about the near thing at
