Free The Lesson by Bella D'Amato

tonight.”
    “Nonno-“ she started and he cut her off.
    “You get,” he said, trying to look stern.
“You look too pretty to stay home with an old man like me.”
    She stared at him a moment longer
before sighing and standing up. “Fine,” she finally agreed. “As
long as you promise me to make an appointment with your doctor on
Monday. For a full checkup ,”
she added.
    “Yes, yes.” He looked at Mason. “You drag
her out of here before she changes her mind.”
    Bianca hesitated a moment longer.
    “My sweet girl, I will be fine,” he
admonished. “I might be an old man, but I know how to take care of
myself.” He smiled. “How long did I take care of you?”
    “All right.” She leaned over to kiss
him on the cheek. “I have my cell phone with me. Call if you need
anything. And I mean anything ,” she stressed.
    “Go, go,” he dismissed them as he turned on
the television. “I’ll be fine.”
    Once they were safely ensconced in Mason’s
car and speeding down the freeway, Bianca leaned back and let out a
shuddering sigh. “Did he look okay to you? He seemed so tired. Not
himself.”
    Mason shrugged a little. “He seemed a little
tired, I guess, but other than that, he seemed okay.”
    She pursed her lips. “He was trying to put
on a front so I’d leave.”
    Mason chuckled a little. “Maybe. But you
know, he’s a grown man. He can decide for himself.”
    “I know,” she answered. “You’re right.”
    Mason smiled at her. “Don’t worry, Bianca.
We’re going to a party. Let’s make sure to have a good time
tonight.”
    Bianca let out a shaky laugh. “I don’t know
if that’s possible.”
    “Why?”
    “I’m so nervous.”
    “Don’t be.” He took her hand in his and
giving it a comforting squeeze. “They’ll love you. And if they
don’t, it doesn’t matter because I love you.”
    She nodded. “I hope you’re right.”
    A few minutes later they were turning off
the freeway and driving through Forest Park. Bianca stared as the
neighborhood turned from upper middle class to upper crust.
Finally, they turned off the main street, driving down a long,
winding driveway surrounded by great expanses of lush lawns and low
hanging trees.
    When the trees parted, revealing the house,
Bianca gasped. The sprawling brick estate covered more real estate
than most of the city block she lived on. Several lampposts lit up
the circular driveway, and two valets stood waiting to help
them.
    Mason stopped the car and hopped out, coming
around to help Bianca from the car as one of the valets opened her
door.
    “M- Mason,” she stuttered, staring up at the
house. “This is where you grew up?”
    He shrugged. “It’s not bad. Just a few
sticks and stones thrown together.”
    Not bad? Bianca gaped. This isn’t a house,
it’s a mansion. I’m swimming with the big fish now.
    More like sharks, the little voice inside her mocked.
    Shut up!
    Mason held his arm out to her, and she
placed her hand on his forearm, grateful for the support as they
climbed the stairs to the front door.
    An attendant at the door bowed his head
slightly. “Mr. Mason,” he acknowledged, opening the wide door for
them.
    Once inside, Bianca’s eyes roamed the room,
trying to take it all in. Everything seemed to gleam, from the
marble floors under their feet to the glass on the family portraits
and photographs hanging on the walls.
    A little further down a wide hallway,
several more attendants lingered outside a set of double doors,
which they opened as Mason and Bianca approached.
    “This is the ballroom,” Mason whispered as
they rounded the corner.
    Bianca worked to keep her mouth closed. The
room was filled with the finest dressed people she’d ever seen,
most of them draped in gold and diamonds, and all of them sparkling
as much as the crystal chandeliers dangling from the cathedral
ceilings above them.
    They stood in the doorway as an older couple
glided across the room toward them. Mason leaned down to whisper