Chapter 7

Ray Kowalski was just heading back to Ben's room with a nice cup of tea for him. Ray saw his parents standing at the nurse's station.

The nurse caught sight of him and pointed him out to his mum and dad.

Mrs Kowalski ran to her son. She saw that he had lost so much weight and had dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep.

Mrs Kowalski embraced her son, "Stanley, oh Stanley you look terrible. Are you not eating or sleeping my dear, how is your friend Constable Fraser"?

Ray put the tea down and cried in her arms.

Mrs Kowalski stole a glance at her husband with a look that said, 'Help your son'.

Mrs Kowalski pulled back and wiped his eyes, "Stanley dear, why don't we sit down and you can tell us what happened"?

Ray nodded, "Ok Mum, I'll just give Ben his tea first. Why don't you wait in the visitor's room for me"?

Mrs Kowalski gave a worried smile, "Ok dear, we'll be waiting for you".

Ray handed Ben his tea, "Ben, mum and dad are here. Is it ok that I tell them about us"?

Ben held the cup tight, "Ray that would be fine, but Ray I don't want any visitor's".

Ray bit his lip, "Ben they came all the way from Arizona, could you at least see my mum"?

Ben sighed deeply, "Ok Ray, but just your mother for a few minutes. After that i want no more. I don't want people to see me".

Ray ran his fingers through Ben's hair, "Ok Ben".

Ray went into the visitor's room to find that they had it all to themselves which he was thankful for.

Mr Kowalski spotted the ring on Ray's finger, "Raymond is that a wedding ring"?

Ray had forgotten that he had it on and looked down at it.

Ray answered in a weary voice, "Ya dad, I'm married again".

Both his parents gasped.

Mrs Kowalski took Ray's hand in her hand, "Stanley why didn't you tell us that you were getting married again, who is she"?

A smile tugged on Ray's lips, "It's not a she mum. You're not going to like it; you'll probably go back to Arizona once I tell you. To be honest I don't care. I'm in love and I'm loved like you wouldn't believe even more then with Stella. I married Ben two years ago now. Now my husband is lying there with his world falling down around him. I don't know how on this earth I'm going to help him"?

Ray's parents went into a dead silence. Ray's mother never left go of his hand in fact she held him tighter.

Mr Kowalski looked disgusted at his son, "Raymond since when are you queer huh. How could you do this? You were married to a woman before what happen. Come on Barbra we are leaving, I'm not staying here with him".

Ray's eyes pleaded with his mother not to leave him again, "Please don't go, not again. I don't think I could take anymore please".

Mrs Kowalski looked her son and stroked his cheek to wipe away his tears, "Stanley I'm not going anywhere. Damian you go if you want to. I am not letting you take me from my son again. If my son loved someone enough to marry them, I don't care if it is a woman or a man. Just as long as that person loved my son and treated him like he should be".

Mr Kowalski was stunned she had never spoken to him like that before, "You mean you'd leave me over this. You'd choose that faggot over your own husband"?

Mrs Kowalski put her arm around her son, "Yes Damian, I let too many years slip by. I will not do it again. So unless you can accept it, then yes you will not have a wife anymore".

Ray's voice was panicked, "Mum you can't do that. I'm not worth it mum".

Mr Kowalski stormed off not before saying, "Barbra you've made your choice, Raymond you're no son of mine".

As soon as Damian Kowalski left the room he regretted every word that he had said. How could he have said that to his son. How could he have called him queer and oh god faggot. He didn't really think those kind of thoughts. He couldn't get the look of pain that flashed across his wife and sons eyes. Every step that he took away from the room getting closer to the exit the harder it got to leave, in the end he couldn't go. So he waited so he could tell them how sorry that he was. That he didn't mean it and that he would be their for them as much and as best that he could. It would just take time it was just such a shock hearing that news. He didn't believe in all that prejudice he was brought up with. He would spend everyday mending those fences that he broke.

Mrs Kowalski held her son, "Stanley don't worry your father will come around. You'll see sure he can't even wash his own clothes let alone boil an egg".

Ray looked at his mother, "You think"?

Mrs Kowalski stood and helped Ray to his feet, "Yes Stanley, you know your father just give him a few days. Now let's go see Constable Fraser".

Ray held his mothers hand, "Ben mum, call him Ben".

Ray and his mother entered Ben's room; they saw that Ben was lying looking out the window. Ben didn't even turn his head to say he knew that they had come in. Ben looked so lost and frail lying there.

Ray kept his voice soft, "Ben mum is here".

Ben didn't turn his head to say that he had heard Ray.

Ray took Ben's hand in his, "Ben, Ben mum is here".

Ben now turned his head his eyes were empty, "Hello Mr Kowalski, thank you for coming to see me".

Mrs Kowalski wanted to go into mother mode but she it would not be wanted right now.

Mrs Kowalski smiled a mother's smile, "That's ok my dear. My Stanley tells me that I have a very handsome son in law".

Ben turned his head way again, "I'm not I'm a monster".

Ray wanted to die at hearing the pain in Ben's voice, "Ben you are not a monster how can you say that. I love you and you are the most beautiful man I know".

Ben's voice came out strained, "Ray I'm tired now I want to sleep".

Mrs Kowalski patted his arm, "You rest my dear I'll come see you when you are more rested".

Ray leaned down and kissed Ben, "Ben ok, I'll just take mum back to her hotel and I'll be right back".

Ray left the room with his mother, "Sorry mum, Ben isn't copping very well".

Mrs Kowalski link her son's arm, "Don't worry Stanley it's understandable. After all his whole life now will be completely different, but we will help him".

Ray smiled at his mum, "Thanks mum do you think dad will come around"?

Mrs Kowalski nodded, "I do my dear since he is standing right there by the front door".

Mr Kowalski came up to his son looking really embarrassed, "Raymond I want to apologise for what said. I-I didn't mean it. It was just a shock you know. I'm sorry and I will help you both anyway that I can".

Ray held his father in a tight hug, "Thanks dad, we are going to need all the help we can get".

They stayed for a little bit before heading back to their hotel.

Ray made his way back to Ben's room to find Ben crying.

Ray took Ben in his arms, "Ben you'll be fine. Mum and dad will be there for you. I'm here for you, I love you Ben".

Ben chocked out, "I love you to Ray, so much".