Debra walks into the kitchen carrying a load of laundry. She is sorting clothes in the laundry room when Marie walks in the back door.
"Debra," Marie says in an unusually cool tone, even for her.
Debra walks into the kitchen, "Hi, Marie," she says hesitantly, "Did you need something."
"I just need my big spoon and I'll be out of your way." She says.
Debra walks over to the counter and grabs it from the piled of dishes she just washed, "Here you go."
"Thank you." Marie says not changing her tone and turns to leave.
"Marie, wait," Debra says
Marie turns around, "What do you want Debra?"
"Look, I'm sorry if we upset you. We really didn't mean anything with our little game. We knew you were going away and thought it would be funny to see how you would react when you came back." Debra says hoping Marie will realize there was no offense intended.
"Oh, you thought it would be funny? You thought keeping it from us was funny? Well it wasn't funny Debra. Ever since you married my son you have tried to turn him against me." Marie says
Debra is stunned, "What? Marie you can't be serious? Why would I want to do that? Remember I am the one who wanted to move across the street. I wanted us to be close."
Marie narrows her eyes, "Well then why am I not welcome in your house. You seem to want to get rid of me altogether. Like when you had Ally start babysitting, you did that as much to teach her responsibility as you did to get rid of me."
Debra feels her temperature rise, "Marie, you want to know why I do those things? Well I'll tell you why. You come over unannounced, criticize they way I keep my house, cook and raise my children. You take every opportunity to run me down. If anything you want to drive a wedge between me and Ray. You don't even do it behind by back but right in front of me. Well, how I keep my house and raise my kids is my business, not yours." Debra surprised herself that the words kept silent for so long had come tumbling out.
"Oh, so my grandchildren are none of my business. Well, then, thank you for letting me know where I stand!" she turns and leaves, slamming the door behind her.
Debra stands in front of the sink dumbfounded. She tries to calm herself but then a sharp pain shoots through her abdomen. She grabs her belly with her hand and doubles over in pain. She manages to grab the cordless phone and call Ray's cell, hoping to reach him on the golf course.
2 hours later Ray is sitting in the waiting room. Robert is watching the kids. He had come back with him when Ray got the call at the golf course.
'How long can this take?' He thought, 'God let her and the baby be okay'
Just then the ER doctor walks in. Ray jumps up.
"How is she?" He asks anxiously
"She's settling down but her blood pressure is still way too high and that is dangerous for the baby, especially at your wife's age. But we're doing what we can to bring it down." He assures Ray.
"Well, can I see her?" He asks.
"Of course, she's is ER 2." He points the way and Ray heads toward the room.
When he walks in Debra is hooked up to several monitors and sleeping peacefully.
He sits down in a chair beside the bed and takes her hand. She rouses awake and smiles weakly when she sees him.
"Hey Sweetie, I'm here." He assures her.
"Oh, Ray, I am so sorry. I have made such a mess of everything." She says a tear rolling down her cheek.
He strokes her hair, "Now I don't want to hear any of that. Don't blame yourself for this. What exactly happened with my mother anyway?"
Debra wipes her eyes, "We had a huge fight. She thinks I have been trying to turn you against her and I just finally let her have it. I told her I didn't like how she criticized me and how I keep my house and raise our kids is none of her business. She yelled and stormed out."
"Oh, Baby, it's okay. I told you she has to get over herself." He smiles at her as he caresses her cheek.
"The doctor said my blood pressure got so high from the stress that it could have hurt the baby, Ray. Oh god, what if the baby isn't okay?" She says, her tears escalating into full blown sobs.
Ray sits next to her on the bed, wrapping his arms around her, "Hey, let's wait and see what the doc says, alright? You just need to rest. Do you want me to bring you anything?"
Debra smiles, feeling comfort from her husbands strong arms around her, "No, I'm okay. Why don't go get some rest?" she says, then pauses for a minute, "Ray, who is with the kids?"
"Robert and Amy are with them." He says assuring her they are okay.
"What about your parents? Do they know?" she asks, shifting a little in his arms to look at him.
"I don't know. Why?" He says.
"I just don't want your mother coming down here. That's all I need." She says.
He laughs, "Well, I don't think Robert has even talked to them. I don't know about Amy. But don't worry about it, just rest." He says, kissing the top of her head.
Debra smiles again as she relaxes more into Ray's loving embrace.