Page 125 of The Leaves In Autumn
“We just want to look at acreage, not own it.”
“You couldn’t have chosen better.”
“That was just the start,” Barbra adds.
I drive up to the villa and let it makes its own impression, like it did for us. I park and we get out. Van is right behind.
“Wow! This is beautiful, bro.”
“The picture didn’t do it justice. Barbra, don’t you love it!”
The sisters come together and do some sort ofyour house is so cooldance.
“It was built in two thousand nine, but it has that slightly timeworn look we wanted. It’s on the site of an old farmhouse. The view from the terraces are to die for.”
I add to the story.
“The architecture is well thought out. And executed. You know you’re firmly in Italy.”
“Barbra, I need to go in and get Zane settled. Can you open the door?”
“We’ll all go. Come on,” I say, leading the way.
Large wooden doors that are new, but look like they have been here for centuries, greet the guests.
“My God! These are fantastic!”
I unlock and swing open the double doors. The view, door to terrace, impresses.
“This is unbelievable! No wonder you love it.”
“Layla, I’ll take you to your bedroom,” Barbra says, wiggling a finger against Zane’s cheek. He giggles. “We’ll take the elevator.”
“I was wondering how a fifty-year-old man was going to climb two floors.”
“Hey! I’m not your age. I still can navigate a three-story house. No insult, Mom. I’m talking to your husband.”
“It applies to me too. Believe me, I’m happy to see an elevator. Especially tonight.”
“So, the ground floor includes the kitchen and this high ceiling, airy living space. Like the beams?”
“They’re oak?”
“Yeah. I really love the look. There’s the wine room and you can see the open fireplace center stage.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“From here we have access to the garden and the covered dining terrace.”
“Are you accepting boarders?” Van says. “Or squatters?”
“Come stay whenever you like. I hope everyone knows how much we’d love having visitors.”
“Are the bedrooms all upstairs?”
“Uh huh. On the second floor, there’s four of them. All en-suite.”
“Now I’m convinced you want company,” Dad says, looking around.
