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The woman wears a huge sand-colored beach hat, sunglasses and a long, fitted white dress with a deep neckline in a yellow flower print. She walks around the huge greenhouse, barefoot, looking at the flowers while waiting for them to answer her call — I have good news for you, sir — She says — The greenhouse is going wonderfully. Many chrysanthemums have bloomed this spring.
— You always give me good news — Alexander answers — I need you to talk to the shadow. I don't want restless Hellenes.
— Why do you punish me like this? So good that I was having a great time here — Claire complains.
— I promise to give you a prize later — Alexander says and cuts off the call. Then, he opens the right drawer of his desk where he usually keeps his cigars. There is a wooden box with his initials carved in Gothic font with a red bow. He doesn't remember seeing that box, so he thinks it must be a gift from his housekeeper "Although it is a disgusting vice, I wanted to give you the pleasure. Happy birthday, Mr. Strauss!"
Alexander smiles at the phrase on the card and sees six cigars in the box. He remembers that night of his birthday, when he confessed his feelings.
He decides to call Tadeus, but he doesn't answer until a couple of hours later — Can we see each other?
— I'm in the Paz de Las Almas cemetery — Tadeus answers — I wouldn't mind if you came.
— Alright — Alexander says.
Yenedith kisses the flowers on her mother's grave and waters them with a porcelain jug that her own mother decorated at some point. Daisy prays on her knees and stands up to give way to Tadeus, who remains silent looking into nothingness — We miss you so much, mom, but we're fine — Yenedith says, taking her brother's hand. Tadeus bursts into tears as he remembers everything that has happened since the moment they met Edwin. A few minutes later, they are both preparing to leave, but he decides to stay a little longer when he sees Alexander approaching from the opposite side of the road — Hello — Alexander says, almost in a whisper.
— It's the anniversary of my mother's death. Greet her, she must be very happy surrounded by so many flowers — Tadeus says with red eyes. He crouches down and caresses the flowers — My father's wife planted these for her, I didn't even know they were friends.
— What did he die of? — Alexander asks, getting a little closer.
— Cystic fibrosis — Tadeus says with a break in his voice.
— I'm so sorry, that's terrible — Alexander says — Losing a loved one to an illness.
— She wanted it that way — Tadeus says, bursting into tears on his knees on the floor. Alexander, for a moment, doesn't know what to do and decides to simply kneel next to him and hug him in silence until he stops crying.
When they reach the entrance to the cemetery, they both remain silent, trying not to connect their gazes — Do you wanna go get something sweet? — Alexander asks, making eye contact.
— Yeah.
They both head in Alexander's car to a gourmet restaurant to order desserts with ice cream. Tadeus decides on a crepe with Worcestershire sauce and ice cream. Alejandro, order a waffle with caramel sauce, caramel and ice cream.
— What about your parents? — Tadeus asks — Before you said you don't have a family. Aren't you close to them?
— Do you really not know anything about me?
— I know you inherited the Strauss pharmaceutical company, but I won't know anything authentic about your family unless you say it yourself — Tadeus says with his eyes on him. He smiles slightly and caresses his hand across the table.
— I never met my mother, she passed away a few months after giving birth to me. Apparently she was very weak — Alexander responds — I didn't know my grandparents either and my father was a rather bitter man.
— Is he with the living? — Tadeus asks.
— He died of stomach cancer almost a year ago.
— What is the best memory you have of him? - Tadeus asks - When my mother died, I tried to remember the best moments I lived with her. That's helped me have her present.
— We never had a relationship as friendly as I would have liked, but it taught me many valuable things.
— Like what?
Alexander remains silent for several seconds trying to remember something his father told him — I don't think I remember much — Alejandro says.
— I'm sorry — Tadeus says.
— He could not be saved.
— Sometimes, pain makes you have no memory of the good things that have happened - Tadeus says - I'm sorry that your father's death hurts so much and how alone you probably felt when he died.
Alexander sighs with a smile trying to hide the sudden crying that is trying to come out of his eyes. He clears his throat because a knot has formed in his throat and looks down on the verge of collapsing.
Tadeus manages to glimpse his sorrow in that fleeting look that Alexander gives him just before tears fall down his cheeks as he tilts his face. The journalist gets up from his chair and hugs him. Something unexpected for Alexander, who latches on to the arm around his chest while feeling Tadeu's chin on his shoulder and the light touch of his cheeks comfort him.
Alexander knows that he has had feelings for Tadeus for days, but it is not until this moment that he manages to define what it is — No, I shouldn't... — Strauss whispers with a muffled voice.
— Yours is still a very recent wound too — Tadeus comments in a low and calm tone. He returns to his seat after a few seconds and they continue eating in silence.
— I would like to thank you for coming to join me — Tadeus says once they leave the restaurant.
— Can I invite you to dinner?
— Only if you prepare something for me yourself.
Alexander smiles at Tadeus' response and they both head to a complex of very luxurious houses. The coyote's son hopes to finally sneak into the Animal's intimate abode, but seeing the walls, tables and dressers without decoration, without photos, without memories or objects that represent some feeling, he knows that this is another facade — Get comfortable, it won't take long — Alexander says walking towards what appears to be the kitchen door judging by what can be seen when he opens it.
Tadeus takes this moment to prowl silently, but fails to see anything even remotely useful. The rooms on the second floor are empty, nothing in the bathrooms, shelves, dressers or closets, not even towels or bed covers. Before reaching the last room, which has two doors, he decides to go down when he sees the time on his watch. Half an hour has passed. So he goes back to the first floor to sit at the table — I hope I haven't made you wait so long — Alexander says leaving the kitchen a few seconds later. He has a red wine in one hand and a couple of glasses in the other. He approaches, pours two glasses of wine, returns to the kitchen, from where he returns with two plates to place on the table and sits next to Tadeus — I hope you like it. I haven't cooked in a while.
— Looks delicious — Tadeus says enthusiastically. He notices the smile of this man next to him out of the corner of his eye and can't help but feel nervous. There is something about all of this that makes him feel comfortable, at ease, and excited. A feeling of longing for these moments of silence with a man who no longer seems so unknown to him.
— Let's eat! — Alexander says, taking the cutlery.
— It's delicious, although I don't usually have steak for dinner — Tadeus says. Then he remembers the dinners he had with Gustaph in those restaurants and feels like a fool after saying that — Well, I don't have meat for dinner when I eat at home.
— What would your dinner be then? — Alexander asks.
— A sandwich or a casserole that my grandmother made — Tadeus says — Of course they have meat, but it is not something as exquisite as this.
— I'm sure grandma's food must be better than this, it's supposed to be that way — Strauss comments.
— You don't have to be modest — Tadeus says — She is blind, so her food is always a little burnt. She's not sure about it until she's burned it a little.
Alexander lets out a laugh, a little surprised by his response — I'm sorry, it's not that I'm making fun of your grandmother, it's that... — He tries to excuse himself, but suddenly he needs to laugh a little more.
— Do you really like me that much to make you laugh at stupid things? — asks, but Alexander can't answer him — Enough — Tadeus says, trying not to smile.
Alexander purses his lips and puts in a portion of food to stop laughing.
— Is she the older woman who was with you in the cemetery?
— Yes, the girl is my younger sister — Tadeus says — We returned from Switzerland to take care of our grandmother after our mother's death.
— You are very considerate.
— Anyone would do the same for their family.
— Not just anyone — Alexander says. Tadeus remains silent until they finish eating. The cook picks up the plates, the glasses, the wine and then goes to the kitchen, organizes and leaves everything clean.
Tadeus dries the dishes while Alexander puts them aside freshly washed, even though he is insisted not to do so.
After washing the dishes, they both head towards the entrance where Tadeus stops before he touches the lock — Thank you for everything. You have made my day much more different than I expected.
— You already know that I really enjoy seeing you — Alexander says with a smile and lowers his eyelids, avoiding prolonged eye contact. Tadeus notices his expectant expression, but he doesn't say anything either — Let me accompany you to the exit. I can leave you near your house — Strauss offers.
— Alright — Tadeus answers, staring at every microexpression he can notice on his face. A sketch of a smile, the way his eyes close slightly, before a hidden sigh that he lets out.
These are things he can no longer ignore after what he told him on the yacht. After feeling in his chest what it is like to long for those lips next to his, to yearn for his hands to remove his hair again with so much passion.