Debra sat on the couch reading a book while Ray fixed dinner for them and the kids. She couldn't believe how wonderful he had been the last couple of months since finding out she was pregnant. She was hoping it would last but knew better. What she also couldn't believe is she had been able to hide it from her in-laws. They had been on a month long cruise but when they returned tomorrow they would be surprised. She was beginning to show enough for it to be noticeable, especially to family and friends. She put her book down and decided to join Ray in the kitchen.
She walks up behind him as he heats the sauce for the spaghetti, "Hey, that sure smells good," she says putting her hand on his back.
Ray turns to her as he puts the spoon down and puts his arm around her, "Well, only the best for you little lady."
Deborah laughs "not so little anymore," she says patting her growing belly, "Can I taste it?"
"Sure," he hands her the spoon with some sauce on it.
"Umm, wonderful." She says with a smile.
"Well, I am a man of many talents," he quips, "and I thought you were relaxing on the couch." He said in a mock scolding tone.
"Ray, all I do is relax." she says, "I need to feel useful."
"But I want to take care of you," he says putting his hand on her belly, "both of you."
Debra's eyes moisten and she smiles softly, placing her hand on his, "Honey, I know you do and you have been wonderful. Look, come over here and sit down."
He follows her to the kitchen table.
"Ray, I love you and you have no idea how much I appreciate how you have been taking care of me. But right now I can still do things and I am going to need your help a lot more in a couple of months when it will be really hard for me to go up and down stairs and stand up for very long. Maybe you can save some of your energy for then?" she asks.
"But, I feel like you are the one going through everything and I just want to make it easier for you. I should have done it before but I know it's harder now that . . ." he trails off without finishing.
"Now that what?" she presses but he doesn't answer, "Now that I am older?" she asks.
Ray closes his eyes and prepares for the outburst he is sure is coming, "Yes" he says.
Debra laughs, "Sweetie, its okay. You can say that. It's true. But the doctor says I am perfectly fine." She says putting her hand on his.
"Well, okay but I just want you to know I am here if you need anything," he assures her.
"I know you are. Listen, why don't we finish dinner together? It'll be fun." She suggests.
"Okay, but after dinner I will clean up and then maybe you might just get one of my famous foot massages." He says as they stand up and walk back to the stove.
Debra turns to face him, "Thank you Ray," she pauses, "for everything."
He caresses her cheek with his hand, "You're my girl, anything for you."
THE FOLLWING DAY
"Ray, come on already, your parents will be here any minute" Debra calls upstairs.
"Coming," he responds
Debra looks around the room and began to straighten up. Wearing a loose fitting long sleeve red knit shirt and black knit pants it was hard but not impossible to notice her growing belly.
"Deb!" Ray says indignantly as he comes down the stairs.
"What?" She asks, putting some toys in the bench in the alcove.
"I told you to let me do that." He says taking the red fire truck she had just picked up out of her hand, "Sit down and relax."
"Ray, come on. I can't just sit and do nothing," She says
"Please, for me? Just let me do this for you." He pleads
Debra sighs, "Oh Alright,"
"Good," He kisses her and pats her belly, "Hey, does this shirt look okay?" he asks as she sits back down on the couch.
"Ray, it's your parents. Since when do you care what you look like?" she asks picking up a magazine and leafing through it.
"Well, they've been gone a month. I want to look nice." He says as says as he continues to straighten up.
Debra rolls her eyes as she continues to look through the magazine. Frank and Marie throw open the door, "We're home dears!" Marie exclaims.
Ray stops straightening up and Debra stands up and they all hug.
"So how was it? Did you have fun?" Debra asks.
"Oh it was wonderful. I can't believe we waited so long to go." Marie says.
"Yeah, yeah," Frank says as he sits in his usual chair turning on the TV, "How about a beer."
"Oh sure Frank," Debra says, "Would you like something, Marie?"
"Oh, a glass of water would be nice, Dear." She responds.
"Okay, coming up" Debra heads to the kitchen but Ray stops her.
"Let me get that, Honey." He says.
"Oh, okay. Would get me some milk, too?" Debra asks as she sits back down on the couch next to Marie, who looks confused about what just took place.
"You got it, Baby Bop!" Ray says as he heads to the kitchen. He has taken to calling her that this time around.
Debra turns back to Marie, "So tell us more about the cruise. It sounds wonderful." She says watching to see if Marie notices anything.
"Oh, it was very nice and the food was good, for that sort of thing." Marie says
"Yeah and the booze were excellent." Frank quips just as Ray comes back in with the drinks.
"Oh, Honey let me help you." Debra stands to take the water to hand to Marie and Marie notices her profile for the first time and her jaw drops a little.
"Here you go, Marie." Debra hands her the glass. Marie takes it still staring at Debra.
"Are you alright, Marie?" She asks.
"Um, yes dear. I'm fine. Are you?" She asks.
"Sure, I'm fine. Why?" Debra asks, knowing Marie must have figured it ou.
"Well, I couldn't help noticing Raymond getting our drinks and fussing over you a little, and your drinking milk. Then when you stood up just now, well," she pauses, "Are you pregnant?"
Debra and Ray look at each other and she looks back at Marie, "Well ….yes!" she exclaims, beaming
"Holy Crap!" Frank says standing up.
Marie has a confused look on her face, "You knew this before we left, didn't you? Why didn't you tell us?
"Marie, we wanted to surprise you." Debra says taking her hand.
Marie pulls away, "What do you mean surprise? You just didn't want to share it with us, did you?" she says angrily.
Ray steps in, "Ma, it wasn't like you weren't going to figure it out. Come on, another grandchild? Huh."
Marie ignores what Ray just said and fixates on Debra, "Oh, so do your parents know already?"
"Well, yes they do but . . ." Debra starts and Marie cuts her off.
"I see, so you wanted to share this joy with them but wanted us to just figure it out?" She says, "I knew you resented me Debra but how could you?" She turns her back to Debra.
Debra looks surprised, "Marie, come on. You know that isn't it at all. We just wanted to see how surprised you would be finding out like this."
Marie turns around, "Well, I guess I don't count for much in this family anymore. Come on Frank lets go home."
"Marie, wait…" Debra says but Marie is out the door.
Ray tries to get her to come back, "Ma, come on you don't have to leave." He shouts at her as she heads across the street.
Frank gets up from the chair, "Listen, I'm happy for you. It's great." He says hugging Debra.
"Thanks Frank." She says, clearly upset about Marie's reaction.
"Yeah, thanks Dad." Ray says.
"Look, I'll talk to her. You just take care of this baby" he says lightly touching Debra's belly then he walks out the door.
Ray and Debra look at each other stunned, "Wow, she is not happy." Ray says, running his hand through his hair.
Debra looks down, despondent, "I'm sorry, Ray. This is my fault with my stupid plan. I'll try to make it right, I promise."
Ray looks at his wife as a single tear falls from her eye. He walks over to her and warmly embraces her, "Oh, Deb. This is not your fault. My mother needs to get over herself. It'll be okay." He says soothingly as he strokes her hair.
Debra wipes her eyes and looks up at him, "Are you sure?"
He loosens his embrace and looks down at her, "Yeah, don't you worry. Just take care of yourself and our little one." He says putting his hand on her belly gently caressing it.
Debra puts her hand on his, "Okay," she says pausing to look up at him again, "Thank you Ray."
"For What?" He asks pulling her back into his arms
"For this, for making me feel better." She says, resting her head on his chest, "I love you"
"I love you too," he says kissing the top of her head.
