Calgary, May 2023
I like writing stories about my friends John and Mary, but I also have other friends. There is Dave, his deceased wife Laura, his new girlfriend Andrea, and his friend from work Martin. Laura died in a car accident and Dave was devastated but Martin found a new woman for him, Andrea. They had few dates and Dave invited Andrea for a romantic evening in his apartment.
“How was your romantic evening with Andrea?” asked Martin next day at work.
“We made a toast to our new life together, and she asked me when was the last time I vacuumed the carpet. Are all women like that?”
“I don’t know, perhaps. But look at it from the bright side. If she moves in with you, she will do all the cleaning. Then you compliment her, appreciate her female touch, and you both will be happy.”
Dave thought that it was a good advice. Therefore, the next time he invited Andrea, he made sure that his apartment looked bit messy. Andrea noticed it right away but didn’t say anything. Dave made a dinner, they drunk wine and Andrea said: “Dave, how can you live in such a mess? Do you ever use the vacuum cleaner? Obviously not, so bring it, I will do it.” Dave obliged happily and while she was vacuuming, he did the dishwasher.
“Now I feel much better,” said Andrea when they were done.
“I am glad you like it here, and you are welcome to stay overnight. There is enough room for both of us.”
Andrea pretended to be surprised. “But I didn’t bring anything with me.”
“All you need is a toothbrush, and I have a spare one. There is room for two in my bed and you wouldn’t need pyjama, I will keep you warm. Besides, you have drunk too much wine to drive home.”
It was all true, Andrea had to admit. They had coffee, had a shower together to save hot water and went to bed. It was the first time another woman was lying in Laura’s place and Dave was wandering if she could see them. Would she be annoyed? What would she say? He soon found out.
“You are using her to do your cleaning,” Dave heard Laura whispering to his ear.
“No, it’s not true. I love her.”
“You love her because she is willing to be your servant.”
“I love her because she is alive.”
That was true. Laura couldn’t dispute that, and she again disappeared in her world of ghosts.
“How did it go last night?” asked Martin during the coffee break at work.
“Laura said I am using Andrea for doing my cleaning.”
“And she is right. You do.”
“But it was you who suggested it.”
“Yes, and obviously it worked. But it wouldn’t last. You must offer Andrea more than a warm feeling for cleaning your apartment. Something tangible.”
Something tangible, otherwise it wouldn’t last. Dave knew that too. The question was, did he want it to last? He remembered Laura and his suffering when he lost her. Would he want to suffer again losing Andrea? The answer was a definitive ‘no’. Therefore, the next time when he invited her, he prepared a great dinner, bought good wine, and cleaned his apartment.
“Are we celebrating something?” asked Andrea when she saw all the preparations.
“Yes, I hope so, but it depends on your answer to my question.”
“And what is the question?”
“Will you marry me?”
Andrea again pretended to be surprised. In fact, she was expecting this question for some time, but wanted to make it bit difficult for Dave.
“So, you want me to replace Laura?”
“Yes. I loved her and I love you, but she is dead, and you are alive.”
“OK, let’s celebrate the replacement of Laura.”
The rest of the story is easy to imagine, and I don’t have to elaborate. The only thing I want to add is that during the wedding night Laura whispered to Dave’s ear: “I wish you all the luck, you will need it.”