A Viper Heart
Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
LEXI
NOW
R ing. Ring. Ring.
I reached my arm out from underneath the blankets to try and silence the sound coming from my bedside table. Without opening my eyes, I felt around the table and my fingers finally reached my phone just as the ringing stopped. I kept a hold of it in my hand and slid it back under my pillow before allowing myself to fall back asleep.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
The sound was louder the second time as it came from straight underneath my pillow. I lifted my head and actually opened my eyes this time. It was a Saturday, my day off, so I knew the ringing wasn’t my morning alarm, but it’s very unusual for my phone to ring for any other reason. I looked down to see what was causing the ringing and when I noticed an unknown number flashing on the screen, I opted not to answer the call. I pressed the silence button on the side and put it back on the bedside table.
Saturday mornings were my favorite morning of the week, I didn’t have to go to work and I could wake up any time I felt like with no rush to make it to work on time. When I first moved to New York, I knew I needed to find a job as quickly as possible to be able to stay here. I took any work I could get, which mostly included casual waitressing or bartending hours, until I landed a casual receptionist job working for Ella Hill. Ella was one of the top criminal defense lawyers in New York. I never thought I would get offered the job based on my limited experience; however, she took a chance on me. I had grown in the business with her and I now worked as her Personal Assistant. I never thought I would work in law but I loved every second of it. I have learned so much in my time there and it’s meant I was able to stay living in New York for the last five years.
I was standing in the kitchen making my morning coffee when I heard my phone ringing from the bench in front of me. I stared down as the same unknown number rang for the fourth time that morning. I tried to decide whether I was going to answer the call or let it go to voicemail. I was just about to answer the call when I heard my roommate step into the kitchen.
“Who is calling you so many times on a Saturday morning?” She asked, as she sat on the breakfast bar and yawned loudly into her hand. Katie wasn’t a morning person; she worked as a bartender at the local bar and usually slept in until midday before she had to go to work.
“Sorry if it woke you. It was an unknown caller but they’ve called a few times now.”
“It’s probably just a sales call. Next time it rings, pass it over. I’ll tell them to stop calling so early on the weekend. That should be criminal,” Katie said as she pulled her brown hair into a messy bun on top of her head. I finished making the coffee before sliding it along the bench towards Katie. I reached into the cupboard to grab another mug and made another one for myself.
“Well, since I’m already up early I was thinking about going to a pilates class. Did you want to come with me?” I asked Katie, who looked at me like I had grown a second head.
“Lexi, I love you, but I absolutely do not want to go to a pilates class. I’m going to go back to bed and wake up in the afternoon.” She smiled at me before holding up her coffee cup and walking back to her room.
* * *
I left my phone at home while I went to my class and also stopped off at the store to grab some food for the weekend since I had no plans except to make myself comfortable on the couch as I watched Netflix.
After class, I walked back towards my apartment, I looked at the city surrounding me and took in just how much I loved it here. It was the complete opposite of my hometown, which was exactly what I was looking for when I moved away. I drove as far away as I could with no set destination until I arrived in New York and from that day, I never left.
When I walked through the front door, Katie was already sitting on the couch. She was wrapped up in our favorite fluffy blanket, wearing the same outfit as earlier, which was black leggings and an oversized jumper that belonged to the boy sitting beside her. Katie’s boyfriend, Josh, practically lived at our apartment as well. He was there most nights because he hated his own roommates, but I didn’t mind because they were both my best friends in the city and they never made me feel like I was in the way.
They both greeted me as I walked past them to place my shopping bags on the kitchen floor and I began to unpack the food into the fridge. Katie and I shared everything when it came to food; we never argued about things like that which was why I loved living with her.
“Okay, so tonight,” Katie said as she jumped over the back of the couch and sat on the kitchen bench in front of me, “Josh and I are going to see a band play at Ray’s. You’re going to come with us.”
“Oh am I now?” I laughed as I put the eggs in the fridge. Katie was always inviting me out with her and Josh to meet his friends because she thought if she could set me up with one of them that we could go on double dates. I know she always feels guilty leaving me at the apartment when she goes out with Josh. I have gone out on a few dates much to her persuasion but nothing goes further than a second date.
Katie thinks I’m being too fussy and that I need to lower my expectations, but that’s where she’s wrong. I’m not fussy. I know the exact reason why I can’t find someone I like here in New York and that reason is him . I have already met the love of my life and I left him. It was a decision I had to make to keep myself from getting hurt again, but no one will ever compare to him, or the way he made me feel. I haven’t told Katie about my past; she knows where I came from but she doesn’t know the reason I left.
“Be ready at eight. His name is Graham and I think you’ll really like this one.” She reached out to touch my hand. I looked over at Josh who just laughed at his girlfriend and shrugged his shoulders.
I made myself a sandwich for lunch, which I took into my bedroom to give Katie and Josh some space. I had just opened my book when another call from the unknown number rang from beside me. I hesitated before answering the call.
“Hello, Alexis Davis speaking,” I answered formally.
“Miss Davis, this is Dr. Harris from Haven Cove Memorial Hospital,” the deep voice on the other line said. “I have left you a few messages this morning. I am calling regarding a patient of ours who has you listed as their emergency contact.”
I felt my heart stop momentarily, almost as if my body knew what was coming next and it was preparing for the shock.
“Is he okay?” There was only one person who would have me listed as their emergency contact and my heart pounded as I waited for the answer.
“Miss Davis, can you come into the hospital so we can discuss this in person?”
“I don’t live in Haven Cove anymore. I can get there but not today. Can you please let me know if he is okay?” The one thing I never thought about when I moved away was what I would do in an emergency and right now, I wish I didn’t live on the other side of the country.
“I’m sorry, Miss Davis. Your father was in our care after having a mild heart attack.” I only spoke to him three days ago and he didn’t say anything about chest pains or a heart attack, so this took me by surprise. My dad knew that if he told me, I would’ve been there in a second to be with him. “Early this morning your father had a secondary heart attack. This one, however, was major and despite our best efforts, we were unable to revive him. I wish we didn’t have to deliver this news over the phone. I am sorry for your loss.”
I felt the first tear slide down my cheek, followed by another.
“Miss Davis, we do require a family member to come and arrange transportation of the body. Is there someone local that we could contact?”
“No, there is no one local. I will get there as soon as I can.” I tried to hold back my tears so I could respond, but I doubted he would’ve understood a word I said. Once the phone call was over, I buried my face in my hands and cried.
A few minutes later, I tried to compose myself before I went into the bathroom. In the mirror, I saw my bloodshot eyes and the light coat of mascara I applied this morning had dripped down my cheeks. I splashed some water on my face before walking into the lounge room where Katie and Josh were still sitting.
Katie instantly jumped up and put her hands on my shoulders. “Lexi, what’s going on? What’s wrong?” Josh was standing beside her with one hand on my elbow, both of them looking at me concerned.
“That unknown number that was calling, it was about my dad. He um, he died this morning.” They both instantly wrapped their arms around me.
“Shit, Lexi, what do you need from us? Josh, go and get us an insane amount of ice cream and wine. Make sure to get mint choc chip because that’s Lexi’s favorite”
“No, I can’t,” I managed to whisper. “I actually need to go home. I need to book a flight and organize a funeral.” I pulled apart from the hug. Katie led me over to the couch and they both sat down next to me.
Josh pulled out his phone from his back pocket and began typing. “It’s Los Angeles, isn’t it, Lexi?” he asked and I nodded. Haven Cove is my hometown, an hour’s drive from central LA. I would need to hire a car when I arrived, but I could organize that at the airport. “There’s a flight tonight. I’ll book your ticket while you pack and we can drive you to the airport,” Josh said as he continued typing.
“Did you want me to come with you?” Katie asked from beside me on the couch. I looked up to her and shook my head before she helped me back into my bedroom to pack a suitcase. This was something I needed to do on my own.
* * *
T he time between Josh booking my flight, me getting to the airport, boarding the plane and the takeoff went by in a blur. My body was in auto-pilot mode. Following through the motions while my brain was elsewhere. The panic hit me when I heard the pilot announce we will begin landing and for the flight attendants to prepare the cabin.
I didn’t think I would ever return to Haven Cove and knowing just how close I was to being back in that town again brought a lot of unease. I didn’t leave Haven Cove on good terms; I ran. I ran away when things got hard and I left my whole life behind and I never looked back. I needed to be here now though, I needed to come and say goodbye to my dad and I needed to be strong enough to face some of the things I ran away from. Because my fear was the reason I left my dad in the first place and I couldn’t help but wonder, if I was in Haven Cove, could I have prevented this? Would I have seen the warning signs of a heart attack and been able to get him help sooner?