Viv Coughlan put the EarPods in her ears and flicked through her playlists. She had eclectic tastes, but she knew today required something grand and majestic. Whereas yesterday's run called for The Village People, today called for Handel's Coronation Anthems. She told her cat Leroy to mind the house and set off on her usual route down the back streets around her small inner-city cottage towards the waterfront.
Life was good for Viv. She worked as a midwife in the local hospital and had heard that day she was to receive a promotion to a more senior position on her ward. Viv had set goals on the eve of her 25th birthday and now at 29 she had now crossed off all but one- she was nowhere near married, not in a happy relationship, but she owned her cottage (with help from the bank and an inheritance from a dear Great-Aunt), had backpacked through small Asian countries alone and spent time working in Africa as a nurse and midwife and this promotion was the penultimate goal.
Running was a release for Viv. She had a naturally athletic frame, and although she felt she could do without her chunky calves and thighs, she was glad for the long legs they lived on. She was taller than a lot of women and throughout her teenage years had always been a tomboy. The youngest of four children and the only girl she was used to being around boys from an early age, however she was so used to seeing them as friends or brothers that she had a hard time noticing when men were flirting with her.
Now, working in a predominantly female area, Viv found herself mixing with more and more women and the men she came into contact with professionally were usually expectant fathers. Viv's last long-term relationship with Andy had ended almost two years ago. She thought he was 'the one,' however after eleven months together, just as she was getting ready to purchase her cottage, he broke down in tears one night and confided in Viv that he thought he was gay and did not know what to do.
Viv did what she did best- she fixed things for others, introducing Andy to a gay friend of one of her brothers and the rest, as they say, is history. It was not an acrimonious split and Viv and Andy still kept in contact, especially as they still worked at the same hospital. Andy was a physiotherapist and he and Viv still tried to catch up for lunch or a coffee at work most weeks.
As Viv came towards the end of the waterfront stretch, she noticed another runner start pacing alongside her. She looked over and saw it was someone she vaguely recognised from work- he was probably a doctor she figured. He was not at all bad looking, taller than her and well over 6 foot, with a lean frame, dark curls on his head, most plastered flat against his head from sweat. Viv was pleased that he actually looked like he had been putting in effort. But she did not want to stop her playlist and when she came to the street she usually turned up on her run home she took advantage of the green light and sprinted to the left leaving her brief companion to run on ahead.
Viv arrived home and discovered she had made great time. She was always surprised when she ran to classical music that her runs were often a better pace than when she chose Brittney or Bon Jovi. It was not unusual for men to run alongside Viv for a while, but today was somehow different. This man did not want to talk and did not follow her when she turned off. Both of Viv's parents and two of her brothers were doctors and Viv swore early on in her dating life she would never date a doctor. She could not remember why. Viv's parents never questioned her moves towards nursing and subsequently midwifery when she left school, despite her being dux of her class.
Josh and Karl both worked down south, Josh specialising in orthopaedics and Karl in Mental Health. Both were married to lovely women who Viv loved immensely, especially Karl's wife Sasha who was also a nurse. Viv's other brother, Alex, also had music in his blood like Viv and played trumpet in the state's symphony orchestra. He had not fully escaped medicine however as his wife, Jane was a paediatrician.
Viv had moved north after her midwifery training several hundred miles from her family and whilst she missed her parents and brothers and their wives, most of all she missed her nieces and nephews. Viv was a doting Aunt who read stories to her nieces and nephews via Facetime and worked her roster to spend a long weekend in her hometown with her family at least every two months.
Home from her run Viv noticed a text from Sasha, "Auntie Viv! Emma wants to show you the painting she did at kindy today," complete with a photo of some stick figures including Viv with the caption "I love it when Auntie Vivvy comes to the city and dances with me."
Viv knew her visit was overdue but she replied reminding her sister-in-law that she was there in a little over a week for four whole days!
Viv showered and washed her short blonde hair. Viv had had many hairstyles over the years, but to her, she liked the pixie cut and it was easier for work. She poured a glass of wine and opened one of the dating apps she still kept on her phone, despite her reluctance to actually go on dates. As usual, she found herself swiping the way that said no thank-you to all the guys who had tried to leave her a message. It was not that she was overly choosy, but Viv was not into short dalliances, and she had found at almost 30 there were many men who were married and looking for extra fun which she most definitely did not condone.
Thinking back to her temporary running partner she contemplated how she would have reacted should his face have come up on her dating screen. She could not work it out, but there was something about him that had caught her eye. She stroked Leroy who had sat next to her on her couch and asked him why he should have such an easy life!
The following day was Viv's day off. She had planned to tackle the veggie patch before her evening Pilates class. As Viv pulled out the last of her Summer basil and saved some of the seeds, she fertilised the area and hoped for some more warmer weather, scattering basil seeds around. With her crop she made a large batch of pesto which she froze, apart from a portion for her dinner that evening and a portion for her friend, Gina.
Andy had put Viv onto this Pilates class. Years of running as well as almost 9 years as a nurse and midwife meant she had aches in her back, hips and knees. Viv found the exercises stretched things nicely and she liked Gina the instructor. Viv had delivered both of Gina's babies and Gina never let Viv pay for her class. Viv often brought small gifts for Gina including the serve of pesto she had made from her garden spoils that afternoon.
The class was never usually full. Maud was always there, still exercising in her late 70s and Viv loved hearing Maud's latest crisis with her husband, Nev, or her cat, Whiskers. Another couple in their mid 40s also came most weeks. Viv did not know how long they had been together, but they both still helped each other and always held hands as they arrived and left. Relationship goals thought Viv.
Time had gotten away from Viv and she arrived at the last minute. She put her bag in the corner and found a place on the floor. There was a new participant that week. Viv looked over and was stunned to see her running partner from the day before. He had been bailed up by Maud who was telling stories of 'him being off his food all week,' no one understanding if she was talking about her husband or cat.
"Right," said Gina with a clap of her hands, "Thanks for joining us Viv! Tonight we have a new class member- Dom would you like to introduce yourself?"
Dominic West explained to the class he was new to the town, "Hi, I'm Dominic, or Dom, whatever you want to call me, I, um, work at the hospital and, um don't know many people and, um, a colleague suggested I try out this class for my hip pains."
Viv spent most of the class trying to get an idea on Dominic. She didn't think he was gay, but she also did not trust herself on the part after Andy and she tried to place where in the hospital she had seen him before.
