A week later, Debra is still feeling miserable. As she lies on the couch trying to find a comfortable position and get some sleep, Ray comes into the room and sits beside her on the couch.
"Honey?" he says quietly, not sure if she's fallen asleep.
Debra opens her eyes.
"Hi," she says.
"Get up, I'm taking you to the doctor's office," he tells her. "I just called and he has an opening."
"Ray," she says. "I don't need to go to the doctor's."
"I'm not playing this game anymore Deb," he firmly tells her. "You've been lying on that couch all morning for a week feeling like crap. The only time you've gotten up is when my mom comes over, because for some unexplained reason you don't want her to know you're sick."
"It's not–" she starts to say.
He lifts her up off the couch.
"Ray!" she protests, trying to get him to put her down. "Ray, stop it!"
"It's not worth it Deb," he tells her as she leans her head against his shoulder. "I'm not changing my mind."
He walks toward the door but stops short as Marie comes in through the back door.
"Hello dears," she says without really noticing what they're doing.
She walks into the living room and looks at them.
"What are you doing that for?" she asks.
"I'm taking Debra to the doctor." Ray tells his mother.
"To the doctor!" Marie exclaims. "Why does Debra need to go to the doctor?"
"Because ma," Ray explains. "She's been feeling like crap for the past week and something must be wrong."
"Well I'm coming with you," she says, moving toward them.
"No ma," Ray tells her firmly. "You're staying here."
Both Debra's and Marie's mouth fall open after hearing Ray say that. He had never talked to his mother like that before.
"Young man," Marie says, shocked. "I am your mother and you do not talk to me like that for any reason."
"I'm not four years old anymore ma," he says, obviously frustrated about having to explain himself to his mother. "I have my own life, I make my own decisions, and if I don't want you to come to the doctor's office with my wife and I then I have the right to talk to you like that."
Marie just stands there, stunned. Ray was sorry he had to do that, he hated it when his mother was mad at him, but if he was right about what was wrong with Debra, he didn't need his mother there when they found out.