Page 107 of Promising You
He laughs. “A little?”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, a lot. Whatever.”
Garret’s phone rings. “Yeah, she’s right here,” he says when he answers. He hands me the phone. “Frank.”
“Hi, Frank.” I look at Garret, unsure what to say. Does Frank know what happened? Does he know where I am?
“You’re finally awake,” Frank says. “Feeling any better?”
“Um, yeah. I feel okay.”
“Listen. No more running on those trails in the woods, especially by yourself. You see what can happen? You trip over a log and end up almost splitting your head open.”
It must be the made-up story Garret told him. I’m relieved Frank doesn’t know the truth. The less he’s involved with the Kensington drama, the better. “Yeah, I know. I’ll make sure not to go alone anymore. Or I’ll stick to paved roads from now on.”
We talk a few minutes more before we hang up.
Garret takes his phone back. “I’ve been updating him. And my dad talked to Frank, too, and told him you’re okay.”
“So you told him I fell when I was running on the trails?”
“Yeah. And I told him you called me on your cell and I was there right away, so he wouldn’t think you were lying in pain for hours.”
It’s another lie and I hate lying to Frank. But telling him about Lilly would cause him to ask too many questions. I’m still trying to understand it myself. It’s still hard to believe that Garret and his family just assumed Lilly had been kidnapped. Like she’s not even safe in her own home.
“Garret, remember when you were talking about having kids?”
He seems surprised. “Yeah. Why?”
“I was just thinking. If you ever have kids, will you have to worry about them the way you worry about Lilly? Always worried someone’s going to kidnap them? Because I think it’s sad that Lilly has to be locked away in her room and can’t even play outside.”
“I’m not going to live my life the way my dad does. I’m not going to do the bribes and the blackmail and whatever else he does to put his daughter at risk.” He smiles. “Our kids will be able to play outside.”
I ignore the “our” reference and move on. “What about the company? You’re not even going to be involved? Don’t you have to be? Aren’t you expected to take over the business some day?”
“Lilly can run it. She’s only 6 and she already likes bossing people around. She’ll make a great CEO some day.”
“I’m serious, Garret.”
“So am I. I don’t want the company. I don’t want anything to do with it. I’ve already told you that. I’m getting a business degree so I can start my own company. Something totally different.”
“Does your dad know that?”
“Yes. He doesn’t accept it, but that’s not my problem. He can’t force me to take over the business. Besides, my dad’s only 48. He’ll be running the company for at least the next 30 years. And in that time he can either train Lilly to take it over or find someone else.”
The door opens and a man walks in wearing dark pants, a white dress shirt, and a tie, with a stethoscope around his neck. I do a double-take when I see his face. It’s the doctor who’s been helping Frank. The one who also helped Garret the night he was shot. This guy really gets around.
“Jade, I’m glad to see you up and alert.” He comes over to my bed. “I’m Dr. Cunningham. We’ve met before. Do you remember me?”
“Um, yes.”
Garret steps aside as the doctor takes my wrist and checks my pulse. Then he checks one of the machines next to my bed.
“Any headaches? Vision problems?” he asks.
“No. Nothing.” I shouldn’t be surprised seeing him there. I know he works for this secret medical group, but I still don’t know what that means. I wish someone would just tell me what’s going on with this guy and explain more about this group and what they do.
“Well, everything looks good. I think we’ll go ahead and send you home.” The man turns to Garret. “You’ll keep an eye on her?”
