Page 30 of Promising You
“He’s just part of a . . . I don’t know what to call it. It’s a medical group that very few people know about. Honestly, Jade, I don’t even know that much about it.”
“What are you talking about?”
He hesitates. “You can’t say a word about this to anyone, okay? I’m serious.”
“Yeah. I got it.”
“Like I said, I don’t know all the details about this group. Nobody has ever come out and told me anything about it. I don’t even know if I’m right. I’m just making assumptions after seeing what they can do. I have a regular doctor. I’ve only gone to these people when I’ve been really sick.”
“Why? Do they have magical healing abilities?” I joke.
“No, but close. They have advanced treatments that most of the public doesn’t have access to. I think they might even have cures for certain illnesses, like serious disease shit.”
“Yeah, right. I think you’ve been watching too many movies. That doesn’t sound like real life.”
“I know, and I can’t prove it, but the more I think about it the more I believe it. My grandfather had lung cancer a few years ago and it just went away. He didn’t have chemo or radiation. Nothing.”
“Maybe he just got better. Do you seriously think doctors would hide a cure for cancer?”
“I don’t want to believe that but my grandfather’s cancer was pretty advanced. How did he get better like that?”
“If what you’re saying is true, that would be pure evil. To only let some people have access to these treatments but not others? I suppose only the rich have access?”
“Rich. Or important. This group is headquartered in DC. They take care of some of the important people there.”
“Like the president?”
He shrugs. “President, senators, judges. This doctor who’s been taking care of me was down in DC last summer when I was an intern. He came into the office of the senator I was working for.”
“So you think that shot they gave you isn’t available to regular people? What’s so special about it?”
“The doctor said it speeds tissue growth so you heal way faster than normal. I’ve never heard of anything like that. Have you?”
“No, but maybe it’s just new and you’re one of the first to get it.”
“Think about it, Jade. It should take months for this to heal.” He points to the area on his chest where he was shot. “But the doctor said it should be back to normal in a week. I can’t compete in swim meets, but he said I’ll be able to swim during practice without any pain. Don’t you think that’s strange?”
“Okay, now I wish I never asked. This is really messed up. But it’s just your theory, right? You don’t know this for sure.”
“I don’t have actual proof, but there’s no other way to explain this stuff.”
“Did you ask your dad about it?”
“No. He’d never tell me. Plus, I think you’ve figured out by now that you don’t ask questions in my family. It’s another one of those unspoken rules. Things just happen and you go with it. Things are explained on a need to know basis. And for most of the shit that goes on with my family, I really don’t want to know the truth.”
There’s a knock on the door and Garret gets up to answer it.
“Mr. Kensington,” I hear a man say. “I’m so sorry for the mixup. The champagne is on us, of course. And here’s the bottle you requested. No charge.”
“Thank you.” Garret takes the bottle, tips the guy, and closes the door. “There. Now you can pick what you want.” His serious tone is gone and he’s back in his cheery, holiday mood.
I consider asking him more about this secret medical group, but don’t. I’m not sure I want to know any more.
“What should we do now?” I take the bottle from him and place it next to the other one in the ice bucket.
He goes and looks out the window at the revelers down below. “Those people look like they’re freezing to death and they have 7 more hours to go.”
“I know what we could do.” I join him at the window. “Let’s take a bath and watch TV in the mirror.”
