5 - The First Date

Ray held open the door for Debra as she walked into the lobby of the restaurant where they had their dinner reservation. She looked absolutely stunning and he couldn't help but keep his eyes trained on her. She wore a simple black dress with her hair pinned back, the delicate curls framing her face.

Still amazed that he actually had a chance with a woman like Debra, Ray was determined to make sure that it would be a perfect night.

"Here let me take your coat," Ray offered as he reached out and helped Debra. "I'm just going to go check these. Stay right here," smiling as he started to walk towards the coat check.

As Ray walked away, he occasionally glanced over his shoulder just to remind himself that he wasn't dreaming and that he really was on a date with the beautiful woman that stood by the hostess stand.

He was so preoccupied with thoughts of Debra, that he almost failed to notice the Janitor's sanitation bucket until it was only a few feet before him. Stopping short, his hands flailed out wildly, causing him to drop his date's jacket right into the dirty bucket. Having regained his balance, Ray realized to his horror what had just transpired. Looking down, he found Debra's suede jacket swirling and sinking into a burbling mess of discolored water.

Having seen Ray nearly tripping from where she stood, Debra ran over quickly. "Are you okay?" she asked with concerned.

"I'm fine. But your jacket..." Ray started.

"Oh my God, my jacket," Debra realized as she gazed downward and saw her soaked jacket. Regaining her composure she continued, "Don't worry about it, it was an accident."

"I'm so sorry. You have no idea. I'll buy you a new one. Heck, two! I'm really sorry!" Ray sputtered, embarrassed with himself.

"That's not necessary, I didn't even like it that much," she replied in an attempt to assuage his anguish.

"But when we got in the car you said it was your favorite coat," Ray responded.

Debra tilted her head to one side and dreamed up a lie. "What I meant was my favorite coat, of my least favorite coats. So I like it best of the jackets I like least..." she answered lamely, not even making much sense to herself. It was indeed her favorite jacket, but being an accident she didn't want him to feel any worse than he already was.

"Why don't we give this to the concierge to do something with and start our date," Debra said with a sweet smile.


Holding out the chair for Debra, Ray waited until she was seated before he made his way to his own chair. Candles lit the center of every table in the room, along with a beautiful crystal vase of flowers.

He gave the menu a cursory inspection. "Everything looks good. Any idea what you might want?" Ray asked casually.

"I know what I want, I've been craving shrimp for days. The second I opened the menu the scampi practically called to me," she replied with a light smile.

"How about to drink, would you like a bottle of wine?" he asked in desperation, hoping to impress her.

"Wine sounds great!"

The waiter walked up to the table and got a closer look at the man now made famous for having dropped his date's jacket in the janitors bucket. It was all over the restaurant by now and he had to muster up all his professionalism just to keep a straight face as he asked for their order. "Hello my name is Anthony and I will be your server tonight, can I start you off with a beverage or are you ready to order?" the waiter asked.

"Ladies first..." replied Ray suavely.

Debra smiled at him. "Okay, I will have the Shrimp Scampi."

"Yes, first can I have a bottle of your finest red wine.…" Ray started nervously. That is what you are supposed to say at these places, right? he wondered to himself before he continued.

"No problem, sir."

"And to eat I will have the Fil-let Mig-nonn," Ray said quickly as he completely butchered the pronunciation.

The waiter stared at him for a long moment. "Oh! The Filet Mignon!" Anthony laughed as he corrected him.

Realizing his error, Ray's face quickly turned red in embarassment. It didn't help that even Debra was trying to stifle her laughter and amusement.

"Right.... well, anyway, I will go ahead and put your order in. The wine shall be out momentarily," the waiter finished as he walked away from the table.

"Our waiter looked so familiar, I think I've seen him in a commercial or something," Debra began in the hopes of breaking the silence that had overtaken the table.

Still embarassed from the incident, Ray welcomed the change of topics. "You know what, I think you are right! He's the guy who can't open the Ginger Ale, until he buys the new easy to open bottle!" he laughed.

"You are so right, that is it! How funny, that is so like New York- no one is just a waiter its always the day job," she said with a shake of her head.

"You know what commercial makes me suicidal? I swear the only reason I would buy this product is to feel better about the thirty seconds wasted from my life every time I see it..." Ray began humorously.

Debra laughed. "No, which one?" He was unique in a variety of ways- some good, some bad- but his innocent sense of humor was a true gem that she couldn't help but be attracted to.

"The one for Tide with the old men complaining about stains, until the Fairy Stain Mother comes and helps them out. Fairy Stain Mother, seriously what is that?!?" he joked with laughter.

"Oh yea, that one..." Debra said softly as she looked down at her hands.

"Do you like that one?" asked Ray. She didn't seem amused. "Maybe I just didn't get it."

"Well, I sort of came up with the concept. I'm in charge of the Tide account at my PR firm," she answered awkwardly.

He winced and tensed his stomach. "...I'm an idiot." answered Ray stupidly. Things weren't exactly going according to plan thus far.

Debra sought to change the subject. "So you want to be a sportswriter..."

The two began to talk about Ray's aspirations of being a writer, followed by a discussion on Debra's family. She talked about how she grew up, where she went to college and her career in PR. Ray fell in love with both her beauty and the way she spoke. Her passion and animated manner was intensely appealing, and he felt as though he could just watch her speak for days and be perfectly content.

There was hope for the evening after all.

Ray was knocked out of the spell that she had worked on him when he heard an all too familiar voice.

"Excuse me, do you know where I can find a Mr. Raymond Barone. He should be here on a date, right now," he heard a woman ask the mai'tre'd.

Ray stole a quick glance across the room and saw his mother as clear as day. "Oh my God," he angrily whispered under his breath.

"What?" she asked in confusion.

He hid his face behind the desert menu. "Nothing. Sorry, go on."

"What's going on. Why are you covering your face, Ray?" Debra asked with a hint of annoyance.

"Uh the light is shining a bit to much in my eyes," he lied.

She looked him in the eyes. "Ray, this place is mostly candle lit. What light?"

Ray didn't answer.

"Come on, put it down."

"Okay, I will but I'm telling you right now me putting this desert menu down can lead to nothing good," came the dejected replied as he submitted to her request.

Before the menu even touched the table, his mother began practically running towards them.

"There you are Rayme!" Marie Barone practically shouted as she reached the table.

"Ma, What in the hell are you doing here?" he demanded in a loud whisper.

Marie smiled. "Well, I was in your room putting away your underwear..."

"MA!" Ray yelled out loud, cutting her off. Several of the other diners looked up from their table momentarily.

"Anyway, I found your wallet and I figured you would need it," Marie finished as she put the wallet down on the table next to Ray.

Debra raised both eyebrows and chimed in, "Oh that is so thoughtful of you."

"Thanks dear, you're Debra right? Its so nice to see you again!" said Marie with a sweet voice.

"Yes, it's nice to see you again as well," offered Debra. Her thoughts began to wonder on why she was following her son on his date, but she put it out of mind for now.

Meanwhile, Ray took the opportunity to examine the wallet. "Ma, this is my old wallet. Didn't you notice how there's nothing inside this one?"

"No, I didn't," she replied not-so-innocently as her voice wavered.

"How about the fact that the Velcro doesn't stick anymore and it has Batman on the front?!" countered Ray angrily as he waved the wallet in her face.

"Okay, I made a mistake! You don't have to get upset dear. I guess I'll go home now...not that I have much to go home to..." said Marie with a deep sigh and lonely expression. Her tone and longing practically begged for an invitation.

"You could join us if you'd like," suggested Debra reluctantly at last.

"That would be love-" Marie started.

Ray cut in immediately. "But she couldn't possibly, right ma? You have a lot to do tomorrow, and need your rest. Don't You?" he said firmly, accentuating the last question.

"Well, not really," his mother began as she pulled up a chair.

Ray gave his mother an unmistakable look of fury and irritation just under the surface. She looked at her son and sighed.

"So what were we talking about, dears?" Marie asked with a sugary sweetness.

Ray gritted his teeth. "MA!"

"I suppose you are right. I should go and rest. Night dears. Ray if you need me though remember I am only a phone call away." Marie huffed as she left.

She would leave alright- but this wasn't over. When Marie had first seen Debra, she had told Raymond that this wasn't the girl for him. She had never felt that way more than she did at this moment. Now this Debra was taking her son away from her.

"I suppose you are right. I should go and rest. Night dears," Marie huffed as she left.