CHAPTER SEVEN – A NEW PLACE

And a whirlwind was exactly what the rest of their day became. True to her word, Claire had mapped out an expansive agenda to ensure not a single moment could be squandered on wallowing in self-pity and grief. They started by strolling arm-in-arm through the High Line, pausing intermittently for Claire to indulge her photographer's eye while Jasmine absorbed the contemporary artwork installations. As the morning ticked on, they ducked into a charming bistro Jasmine had always wanted to visit, spending a couple hours over lunch. Claire steered the conversation with animated flair, prompting Jasmine to divulge hilarious behind-the-scenes tales from her time curating gallery openings and negotiating with eccentric artists. By the time their brunch plates were cleared, color had begun restoring itself to Jasmine's pallid complexion, along with an inkling of the spark that used to animate her artistic spirit. She found herself walking with a lighter tread as Claire led them on a mea