That night, Alexander decides to take out the painting he'd stored in the closet and hang it in one of the hallways of the house. He finds a spot above the fireplace where there used to be a view of a field of white tulips.
He stands in silence, staring at the portrait for a long time, searching his mind for a happy memory of his parents looking like that, but he's snapped out of his brooding when he hears a car approaching. He quickly looks out the window and notices it's Claire's car.
Alexander hurries to open the door. — What are you doing here?
— I've been maniacally looking for you for a week now, until I remembered this place even existed — she says, making her way inside the house. Claire sets her travel bag on the small table next to the door and walks over to the dresser in the living room, where she pours herself a glass of whiskey. — I guess you were busy. Your face is greasy.
— Claire, why did you come?
— They found Dove and Leonard in a swamp on the outskirts of the neighboring city, but way up north. Dismembered, with dog bites; they think they might be from wolves or wild dogs that live in that area — says Claire — The fact is, they were murdered; the coroner confirmed it. Despite their advanced state of decomposition, they found bullet holes or fractures caused by a firearm in their skeletons.
— There's no doubt this is the dog's doing — says Alexander — What happened to the bodies?
— The discovery won't even make the local news. The family of the man who found them was paid well and given a warning, not to mention the coroner. As far as the law is concerned, those bodies aren't connected; they died of natural causes and are now ashes in the wind.
— Are you sure it was them?.
Claire notices his sad expression, steps closer, takes his hand, and guides him to sit on the sofa. — I can swear to it, Alexander. They were Dove and Leonard — she says, looking him in the eyes before hugging him.
Strauss takes a deep breath, holds back his tears, and pulls the woman away from his chest. — You did the right thing, Claire. — You can go now. Make sure the merchandise is flawless.
— No specks, no hairs. I know — Claire says in a softer tone. She places her hands on his chest and slides them between the opening of his shirt. In one swift motion, she drapes her legs over his knee, brings her hands to his shoulder, and sits on his lap.
— I was about to throw you to the floor, woman.
— I thought you missed me. Why don't you fire me like last time?
She slides the straps of her form-fitting dress down, exposing her breasts, and pushes her boss's face toward them so he'll kiss them. — Call your beloved and tell him to join us.
Alexander grabs her by the shoulders and pushes her against the sofa. — Can you stop it? Cover yourself — he says before standing up — The room at the end of the hall is free, but you have to leave in the morning.
She snorts in slight indignation, stands up in front of him, takes his hands and places them on her breasts, and forces a kiss between them with her arms around his neck. Alexander manages to push her away from him, causing her to bump into a small table. She does nothing but laugh out loud, while he lifts her dress.
— Is this some kind of preview? — asks the lover standing in the doorway.
— Tadeus, what are you doing awake? — asks Alexander with his left hand around Claire's waist.
— I was using the bathroom when I heard you open the door.
— Were you listening to our conversation? — Alexander takes a couple of steps forward, but Tadeus takes a step back. — How much did you hear?
— Is that what's worrying you right now?
Then, Alexander notices the tears welling up in his eyes. — You told me you hadn't come here with anyone else.
— She's a childhood friend.
Claire picks up the glass she left on the side table in front of the sofa to finish the remaining liquor and leaves the living room, walking past Tadeus, who turns his face away so their eyes don't meet.
— Claire, please go home. We'll talk later — Alexander says when he sees her heading toward the kitchen.
— All right, sir — she replies.
— Did you ask her to answer you like that? — Tadeus asks as soon as he hears the door close.
— She works for me.
— Yeah, I can tell.
— I wasn't planning on sleeping with her; I didn't even kiss her — Alexander says.
Tadeus lets out a snort along with a short groan, as if trying to control the sudden wave of tears that takes him by surprise, despite his throat feeling like a knot. Tadeus turns to walk toward the kitchen. Alexander quickly follows him and tries to stop him in the hallway, but he gets his hands off a couple of times.
Tadeus pours himself a glass of water and drinks it all before hesitating over his mixed feelings. — I thought I could… That maybe if I told you…
— She and I were together a while back, but that was before I met you, and it was all over by the time we started dating — says Alexander. — I don't understand why she thought she had a chance.
— You must have told her about me, about your 'beloved.' Am I just another person you sleep with while she's away?
Alexander cups Tadeus' face in his hands and wipes away the tears beginning to fall with his thumbs, never taking his eyes off him. — There's nothing like what you're implying. I don't hold myself back, you know that. — He says the last part in a softer tone, with his lips pressed against Tadeus' forehead. — She got the wrong idea. It's the first time she's done that since we broke up — says Strauss. Tadeus yields his head, trying to pull away, but he can't muster enough strength in his hands; he can't convince himself that Alexander is lying, that this is his chance to end it all and walk away from his deceit unscathed. — I promise — insists Alexander, who kisses him on the lips and hugs him tightly. — I love you, I love you, I love you.
Tadeus clings to Alexander's warmth, brushing his lips and nose against his neck. "I love you too," he thinks, but doesn't say it.
They both stay at that house for another week, making repairs and clearing out old stuff from the attic until the place is almost empty. On the morning of the last day they plan to stay, Tadeus comes across a rather fine wooden dresser. — Are you planning to throw this away too, or will you take it to the other house?
— That's a turntable — says Alexander. He walks over and lifts the lid. — Maybe it belonged to my grandfather.
— There's still a vinyl in it. Do you think we can play it?
— I don't think it has a battery — says Strauss. However, he decides to turn it on, and immediately a soft melody begins to play, followed by a woman's voice. — I've heard that song before, but I can't quite remember when or where.
Tadeus takes Alexander's hand, and they begin to dance slowly around the attic until the song ends. They both smile and gaze into each other's eyes for several seconds, needing no words to break the silence, until they hear the horn of the truck coming to pick up their belongings. Tadeus smiles and is about to say they should go downstairs, but Alexander interrupts him by kissing his lips passionately.