Serena creaked open ivy covered gate and cautiously peered into the front yard of the house. She pulled herself through then worked on getting her suitcase through the narrow gate. After she had finally pulled it through she made her way to the front door. She took of her sunglasses and looked at the villa. She whistled. It was larger than she had expected. She opened the door and, leaving her suitcase on the porch, made her way down a hallway.

"Hello?" she called. "Hello? Anyone He-ow!" She looked down to see a faucet poking out of the wall. Rubbing her arm where she'd hit it she made her way through the house. Pigeons flapped loudly above her head making her gasp in surprise. She entered a room with only a fireplace, a chair, and a sofa in it. An old woman appeared from behind the couch. "Oh! Oh I'm sorry! Scusi! Scusi! (A/N: Scusi is Italian for Excuse me although I don't think it's spelled right. Oh well.)

"May I help you?" asked a masculine voice from behind.

Serena turned to see a man in his early forties smiling at her. He looked friendly. "Yes. I'm sorry I thought the house was for sale."

"No, no it is, but someone is already buying it. I am Senior Martini." Said the man.

A man and woman walked in then. The man had a German accent and said "We like it very much, we'll take it today."

"Very good. One moment. Please." Said Martini. He sat next to the old woman and explained to her someone wanted to buy it in Italian. The woman seemed upset, and said something to him also in Italian. Serena was tugging on a rope nearby, wondering what would happen if she pulled it...a bell rang.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She said urgently.

"I'm afraid that there has been a change in the price," said Senior Martini. It is now 20 million lire more."

The couple looked ticked. Serena walked up to Senior Martini and asked the price.

"Wait, wait, we accept the new price," said the man of the couple. Senior Martini explained to the contessa(old woman) and she said it was double because of the interest in the house. The couple turned to Serena.

"You greedy Americans. You think you are so entitled. You ruin everything." Said the woman.

"A lot of us feel really badly about that," replied Serena.

"Come, we will look for something in Province," said the man, taking the woman by the arm and leading her out.

Serena turned to Martini. "Is it really double the price?" the elderly woman nodded. Serena looked disappointed. "I can't pay double the price, but I can pay you this." She took a calculator from Martini and typed in her offer. "Minus the work on the place, hammers, buckets, men to do the work, chocolate...and a rental car to drive off a cliff when this all turns out to have been a terrible mistake." She showed them the number. "That's what I can pay you."

"No, eh, no, no." said the contessa.

Martini looked at Serena "The contessa's family has lived here a very very long time. And, money isn't the only issue. She also needs-"

"Un Sieno de Deo (A/N: A sign from God.)."said the contessa.

"A sign," said Serena smiling. "I believe in signs too. Well, thank you." A bird flew overhead. Serena was suddenly hit with bird excrements. Senior Martini got up and helped her wipe it off.

"Un Sieno de Deo! Un Sieno de Deo!" cried the contessa.

"Believe it or not, in Italy, when just happened to you is very good sign." He said.

"First, we open an account for you. Then you transfer the money." Said a woman at the real estate office.

"Here is the legal description. Two oxen, two days. Its old fashioned, the land ism measured by how long it would take two oxen to plow it." Said Senior Martini.

"Oh, okay." said Serena, confused.

After all the forms had been filled Serena took the key to look around her new home.

Sorry for short chapters right now. I promise the next one will be longer.