Thank *you* for reading & commenting... I did cut a portion from that section, because I thought it became *too* detailed. In the end it appealed to me that the entire section retained some vagueness. The time frame, beyond being post 513, is left unspecified; I originally intended for them to be together in NYC, but even that isn't spelled out clearly so it's just as possible that they're back together at the loft.
So the bedside table could be bare because they've just moved in together, or it could be for exactly the reason you suspected. Or, hey - maybe even both. :)