They fell silent for a few minutes, and then Brom asked Jenna about what she did.  On learning that she was a sought-after art adviser, he began to query her about artists who had piqued his interest.  She’d explained that she’d been a friend of Trevor’s sister and had joined the sister on the Goldcoast after she’d been invited to join the outing to the Lerins Isles that afternoon.  All three were soon talking casually about trends in art that each had observed, to varying degrees, with Brom and Diane asking Jenna’s views about what art to get.

Later, Diane was in the middle of describing how she and Jules were remodeling their townhouse in the West Village, and was beginning to describe what art she and Jules were drawn to when Brom interrupted Diane, to ask Jenna, “Wait a second, I’m sorry to interrupt Diane, but I just remembered overhearing earlier that you were planning to spend some time in New York soon?”

He slowly sat up, looking across Jenna at Diane.  Diane sat up also, exchanging a long look with Brom.  Is he thinking what I’m what I’m thinking?

Jenna answered, “Um … yeah, I am.  My Asian clients have changed some of their plans, and will be flying to New York in staggered schedules all through the rest of the summer maybe into fall.  Affected my plans to fly to Shanghai from Basel, actually.  So I’m heading to New York right after this quick stop here in Cannes.”

Her voice picked up in excitement, “At the same time, while there I’ll be able to work with a few of the young artists I met in Basel who will be renewing their studio leases in Brooklyn to continue some work they’ve allowed me to preview.  They’ve asked me to work with them to pull together an exhibit for either later this winter, or early next year.  Very excited about that project – it takes me back to what I love about working in art.”

When neither Diane nor Brom reacted to what she’d said, she also sat up to look in turn at one and then the other.  They’d been looking across her, as she spoke, she noticed, mouthing things at each other.  What were they talking about?