Page 124 of The Leaves In Autumn
I love their play. I have been around it for half a century.
“God, it’s good to be with you again. We have missed you all. And our game nights and a hundred other things.”
“I know you do. But what a paradise you’ve found. It’s perfect here.”
Barbra loves it every time someone agrees. She was the one who found this spot.
“Aurora, I can’t wait to show you what Aargon has done. The house and property are so beautiful.”
“Whatwehave done. It’s every bit her as it is me.”
I look in the rearview mirror and catch Barbra’s eye. I want to fuck her.
“What’s so funny?” Dad asks.
“Nothing. We’re getting close.”
“I can’t wait to see it all,” Mom says, watching nature’s spectacular show.
The Umbria hills and the untouched landscapes speak for themselves. Bordering Tuscany, it has the unmatched drama of natural beauty.
“They call this Italy’s Green Heart,” Barbra adds.
“It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.”
“The Romans and the Etruscans left an incredible artistic heritage.”
“I was reading about the feuding medieval families. Talk about grudges!”
“Yeah, Dad. We’ll go to the museum while you’re here, and you’ll see the sculptures from the sixteen hundreds. They’re awesome.”
“Is that a forest?”
“Oh yeah. That’s why they are famous for truffles.”
“I love truffles and truffle oil. Expensive though.”
I know this makes Barbra happy.
“I’m glad you do, because I’m cooking something special tonight. Strangozzi with lamb and artichokes. There will be truffles.”
“What’s strangozzi?”
“Square spaghetti!”
Dad reaches back a hand to Barbra and she takes it.
“Aargon picked the right wife.”
“There it is. That one on the hill.”
I stick my arm out the window and point for Van and company. He gives two short honks of a weak horn. We turn onto the drive up to the house.
“Oh, Aargon! Beautiful!”
“It ticked all the boxes for us. We had lots of must haves, like a view that can’t be taken away, and room for visitors.”
“But we didn’t want to have to take care of a huge property or big gardens.”
