On Saturday morning of Memorial Day Weekend Ray Kowalski drove Frannie and Ma Vecchio to St. Martin's Cemetery so that the women could put flowers on their family graves . After they were finished they stopped at a nearby pub to have lunch. While Ray was washing his hands,. Ma told Frannie that she was happy that she and Ray were such good friends. Frannie blushed and lowered her head. Mrs. Vecchio asked her if their relationship involved more than friendship. Frannie stammered: "Ma.."

She wanted to tell her mother how she felt about Ray, but she was afraid her mother would object.

When Ray first replaced her son Ma Vecchio had tolerated the blond imposter, but she had never treated him like she treated Benton It was hard for Ma not to resent the man who had replaced her son as Fraser's best friend.

Ray had never felt comfortable with the noisy brash Italian family. He always felt like an outsider and only now had Mrs. Vecchio started inviting him to family dinners again. She had tried in the beginning, but Ray always had excuses after the first two he attended. The food was good, but the cacophony that was produced at the Vecchio dinner table drove him crazy.. He had trouble following the conversations and the effort gave him a headache. Mrs.Vecchio always insisted that he eat more and then he would get indigestion. Twice he had left the Vecchio home feeling uncomfortably full and with an aching head.

Since Ray Vecchio had moved to Florida, however the entire family relied on the Ray that had stayed in Chicago more and more. Ray loved Frannie's nieces and nephews. He never got to see his brother's children and Maria's kids were lively and liked him too. In fact Ray had agreed to attend two picnics this long holiday weekend with the Vecchios..

After they returned from the cemetary Ray and Frannie would take Ma, the kids, and Ante in the GTO.. to a state park for a picnic. Fraser and Meg would also come together with Dief, of course..

Ray smiled to himself when he thought of the unlikely group they all made.

Ray was happy that after her brief tenure as a spy, Meg had returned to Chicago and she and Fraser actually talked and now the happy couple were planning a July wedding., a simple elegant affair. Ray would have to wear a tux and the other Ray , the first Ray Vecchio would be coming back from Florida. The last Ray had heard from Frannie, Stella was undecided about whether or not she wanted to come back to Chicago for the wedding. Ray figured the other Ray had by this time learned that if Stella did something she really did not want to do, everyone suffered. realized he did not want to think about The Stella anymore and smiling at himself in the restroom mirror, dried his hands and returned to the two women..

The second picnic was going to be a barbecue at the Vecchio's home on Memorial Day with the immediate family and Ray K. of course. Ray and Frannie would attend after they participated in a memorial for slain police officers.

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. Ray was getting ready to attend the Memorial Day Services for Police Officers killed in the line of duty. Frannie insisted on accompanying him. She met him at his apartment and they were getting ready to leave. Ray stood before her in his dress uniform. Ray smiled shyly and Frannie thought he never looked more handsome. Ray made a joke about the uniform not being as fancy as Fraser's and Frannie told him that she did admire a man in uniform, but that some uniforms drizzled too much. Ray shook his head and told her she probably meant dazzled.. Frannie replied: Drizzled, dazzled , dizzy whatever and Ray smiled at Frannie's fractured elocution.

He was not sure if their little word games were always based on Frannie's malapropisms or if they had just become a game they played. He shook his head and realized that he did not care, if Frannie felt comfortable enough with him to joke about her interesting vocabulary, that was greatness..

They left the apartment and made their way to City Hall. After the service, Frannie checked her cell phone. There was a message from her brother in Florida. She dialed the number wondering why Ray would be calling her. He usually called the house on Sunday afternoon. In fact had just called yesterday.. The phone rang several times. Finally A voice said: "Vecchio residence."

Frannie asked for Ray and after being asked for her name, she was told that her brother was unavailable at the time. He was still at the police station. Frannie stammered; "Police station.?"

Ray noticed her concerned tone and put his arm around her. She looked at him and shook her head.

Then whoever was on the other end of the phone told her that there had been an accident and that Mr. Vecchio had gone to the Police Station regarding the shooting . Frannie almost screamed: "What shooting?" Just then her call waiting signal sounded and she told the man she had another call she would try to reach her brother later. She pressed the button and Ray's voice echoed in her ear.

Frannie said: "Oh my God Ray what is going on. ?"

Ray said Frannie: " There's been a terrible accident. Stella was shot at the bowling alley last night. I need to make arrangements to bring her back to Chicago. "

Ray's voice broke and he stopped. Frannie looked at her Ray and her face was ashen, He stared at her. She reached for his hand and clutched it tightly. She said into the phone: "They are bringing her up here to the hospital?'

Ray shuddered and said:" No, Frannie to bury her. She did not make it. I wanted to tell you before I talked to Ma. I still have to call Stella's parents. I thought maybe you could tell Ma. Frannie, I don't know what to do. The police have not released the body, but when they do I want her to be buried in Chicago, not here. Frannie, I know this is asking a lot, but could you come down here and be with me for a while. I don't want to be alone, please."

Frannie looked into her Ray's eyes and told her brother of course she would come.

Travel arrangements were quickly made and Ray took Frannie to the airport later that evening. Their parting was restrained. Neither of them felt like talking about Stella's death. Frannie was afraid of what Ray might be feeling for his ex-wife and Ray just could not believe that Stella was gone. He told Frannie to call every day. They kissed tenderly and he whispered in her ear that she was his future.

Frannie looked into his eyes saw concern and love kissed him again and left the terminal.

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She called Ray every day and finally Stella's body was released by the police 8 days after her murder. The teenager who had shoot her in a botched robbery attempt had been apprehended. He was in jail waiting for his trail date.

Every night Fraser would check on Ray . He was concerned about his friend. Fraser appreciated how difficult the situation must be for Ray and he wanted to be there for his friend.

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Ray. paced back and forth at the airport. He was excited about seeing Frannie, but he was nervous about seeing Ray Vecchio. He was not sure whether Frannie had told her brother about their relationship and he was apprehensive about the Stella situation. The flight arrived and finally Ray saw Frannie and her brother walking toward him. Frannie's face lit up and she ran toward him. If her brother did not know about them before, he sure enough would know now. Except that Vecchio walked like a robot. His face did not register any change when Frannie ran toward Ray and hugged him fiercely. They kissed and he still just walked toward them No sarcasm, no biting wit. Vecchio was in a bad way.. Ray gave him his condolences. They picked up the luggage. Frannie said the corpse would be picked up by the funeral home and they left the airport.

Ray. stood outside the funeral home doors fussing at the lapel of his gray suit.. He had delivered Frannie, her mother and Ray Vecchio to the funeral home. All he had to do was walk up the stairs open the door and go inside. It was simple, but he found he could not move. His past and his present and his future were inside this building and he did not know where one started and the others ended. His Golden Girl, His Stella, whom he had at one time thought would be his forever was in a room lying in a coffin. His Frannie, whom he hoped to love forever was also in the same room. Frannie's brother, Stella's current husband was also in the room and Stella's parents, who had never gotten along with Ray. were there. Even his own parents would arrive at some point. They had liked Stella and his mom had kept in contact with her even after the divorce. Ray pressed his fingers to his temples and sighed. This was pretty much a no win situation. He wanted to be there for Frannie, but he did not know if he could face seeing Stella dead. He straightened his shoulders and started up the steps.

When he got inside the building he was directed to the Vecchio parlor He entered the room and was relieved to see Fraser standing by himself. Then as he approached him, Ray saw Frannie standing beside her brother. Frannie looked very small and pale. Vecchio looked about the same as he had when Ray had picked the brother and sister up at the airport. He looked like a man who was sleep walking through life. Standing next to Frannie was Stella's parents. Ray. nodded at Fraser and walked toward the brother and sister. He gave Frannie a small smile and shook hands withVecchio Then he mumbled something inane to Stella's parents, who nodded and her dad actually shook his hand, stiffly but it was some acknowledgment. Frannie excused herself and she led Ray to where the casket was displayed. She stood by Ray as he looked down at the woman he had once loved more than anything. Frannie put her hand on his back as a shudder ran through him. The thing lying there was not Stella. It sort of looked like Stella, but the glow was gone.

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Ray sat next to Frannie during the funeral. Fraser and Meg were on his other side. The service was held in one of the bigger rooms of the funeral parlor. A female minister, Rev. Snow talked about Stella. Ray was not really focusing. No mention of him was made. He did not expect any. Frannie held tight to his hand and she squeezed gently whenever Ray Vecchio was mentioned. Mostly Rev. Snow talked about other things. To the people who were listening, it was pretty clear she had not really known Stella.

Ray Vecchio stood before the freshly dug grave of his wife. He stared down, but did not really see anything. He and Stella had married in haste and they had not really known each other even after almost a year and now never would. There would be no children; wouldn't have been anyway; Stella had laid down the law. Ray stood for what seemed an eternity. Finally he dropped the rose he had been clutching onto the casket. Frannie was there beside him. He had not even know when she had appeared at his side. She put her arm around him and led him away. Standing near the family limo was his ex-wife Angie. He had not even known she had been at the funeral.

Ray stood alone watching the brother and sister as Frannie led Vecchio away from the grave.

They went toward a limo where the rest of the Vecchios were gathered. Ray waited until the limo drove off watching Frannie's face as she stared at him through the side window. When the car was out of sight, Ray made his way toward the grave. He clutched an orchid in his fist and dropped it onto the coffin thinking of all the corsages he had given Stella over the years. She had loved orchids. He remembered that and he remembered all the happy times. There had been happy times, before they both had changed. He shuddered and the tears came. He cried for Stella. He cried for himself. He cried for Frannie. He even cried for Vecchio. Then he just cried. After awhile he could cry no more. He straightened up and left. He had promised Frannie that he would stop at the house and it was a measure of his concern for her that he actually drove toward the Vecchios. However, he could not bring himself to enter the house.

When he passed by the living room window, Fraser had seen Ray's car sitting by the curb and told Frannie. All of a sudden the passenger door opened and Frannie slid into the seat. She had been terrified that Ray had decided not to come to the house. She just sat facing Ray.

Ray turned toward her and they both melted into each other. Ray held on tight and sobbed into the woman that had been there for him while she told him how much she appreciated him being there for her. He kissed her passionately, feeling the past slip away. This was his now and future. He knew that now as clearly as he knew he wanted at last to be free to be Ray Kowalski. He also knew that he wanted Frannie to be Mrs. Ray Kowalski. He asked Frannie to marry him and was overjoyed when she sobbed a yes into his shoulder. They kissed tenderly.

Finally Ma came out of the house and ushered them both inside the house. It was hard to tell which of the three had the biggest and goofiest grin.