Page 6 of The Villa

And, let’s be honest: six weeks of glamorous photos to post on Instagram and Facebook, where Matt still follows me.

“Okay, I’m in,” I tell her, closing my eyes as I say it, and on the other end of the line, Chess cheers.

“Yes! I knew you would be. I’m gonna send you all the information about the house, and then I’ll book your ticket.”

“I can get my ticket,” I say, and I can, although it’s definitely going to push one of my credit cards to its max. But if Chess is renting us an entire house for six weeks, I don’t want her to also buy my plane ticket. I have some pride, after all.

And Chess, thank god, doesn’t fight me on it. Maybe she knows better.

“Perfect. I’m leaving in two days, so don’t make me wait too long by myself, okay?”

I don’t point out that she could’ve invited me earlier. Instead, I promise her that I’ll find a flight soon, and when I hangup the phone, my face is almost aching from how much I’m smiling.

A summer in Italy with Chess.

A chance for a hard reset, something I desperately need. Something Iwant.

Something I deserve.

Fwd: Reservation for Villa Aestas June 6–July 29

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Here you go! You won’t need to print out the parking pass they attached, I’ll deal with all that. But LOOK AT THIS HOUSE, EM!! You can google it and get even more pictures, it’s completely insane.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Buongiorno, Chess! Your stay at the luxurious Villa Aestas is all set! Thank you again for trusting me to set up the PERFECT summer vacation for you. I think you’re absolutely going to be delighted with Villa Aestas and the entire Orvieto area. Here’s a bit from the website:

Nestled in the hills around Orvieto in Umbria, Villa Aestas is an oasis of calm and serenity, full of historical charm while still catering to the sophisticated twenty-first-century traveler. While many of the home’s original furnishings from the 1800s have been preserved, the kitchen is fully modern, and the property’s three bathrooms have recently been remodeled. Only a fifteen-minute drive from the city center, Villa Aestas provides privacy and convenience, and for an added fee, a daily maid and chef service is available. Enjoy your stay in one of Umbria’s hidden gems!

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Chess, you neglected to mention that this is a Murder House.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Does one murder a Murder House make? Besides, it was a bunch of rock star types in the seventies—honestly if murder hadn’t happened, it would be more of a surprise.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

I do think one murder makes a Murder House, as a matter of fact! There’s a podcast about it! If some guy in an ironic graphic tee and stupid hat has spent ten hours narrating the terrible thing that happened in the house, it is a verified Murder House!

(But you’re right, this house is also gorgeous and I’m excited, and I promise to only mention the murder five times AT MOST.)

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

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