Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) makes a shocking discovery on Coronation Street next week when she finds a care home leaflet in the bin, fearing husband Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan) is planning to put her in a home.
With her vascular dementia symptoms rapidly advancing, Debbie's decline is becoming more and more noticeable. She's never had cause to doubt Ronnie before, but now she's growing more and more confused and suddenly questioning everything.
While the disease clouds her mind, the feisty, strong-willed Deb of old is still there and won't give up her independence, which means she's kicking against Ronnie's attempts to care for her. She won't be treated like a child.
Debbie's growing suspicions
In next week's trip to the Cobbles, this starts to take its toll on Debbie, leading to a jaw-dropping discovery. When Debbie announces that she's off to work, Ronnie's forced to gently remind her that today is her day off. Too proud to admit that she'd totally forgotten and not wanting him to worry, Debbie acts like she's got back-to-back meetings and couldn't cancel them.
Ronnie knows full well that she's saving face but plays along regardless just to humour her. Later, Debbie only believes that she's busy at the Chariot Square, where Ronnie thanks Ryan Connor (Ryan Prescott) for finding some work for his wife to do and keeping her busy. From afar, Debbie watches them with discomfort, sensing they're talking about her.
Later, after a disastrous incident where she almost electrocutes herself with a toaster, Ronnie comes to Debbie's rescue and this causes a huge argument where she accuses him of treating her like a child – only to find a leaflet advertising a care home in the bin. Debbie's aghast, wondering if Ronnie is trying to put her in a home.
Abi agrees to follow Ronnie
When Ronnie turns down Debbie's offer of an afternoon lie-down and nips out to grab some lunch, she's already fearing the worst. That's why she enlists the help of Abi Webster (Sally Carman-Duttine), her ex-sister-in-law. She unburdens her suspicions that Ronnie is seeing someone else and planning to get her out of the way in a care home.
Abi agrees to follow Ronnie to a supposed 'meeting' – only to catch him with his arms around another woman. Abi wastes no time in finding out the truth. However, Ronnie explains the woman is from a dementia support group that he's just joined.
Concerned to see how much Ronnie is struggling, Abi urges Ronnie to come clean to Debbie, but Ronnie refuses. It seems he can be convinced, though, when Ronnie assures Debbie that he's not having an affair. Swayed, Debbie believes him and reveals that for his birthday she's booked the honeymoon suite at the hotel. The two look forward to a romantic evening.
Heartbreak at the hotel
But when Ronnie arrives at the hotel with his overnight bag, there's heartbreak in store when Debbie's mortified to realise she'd forgotten and hired the honeymoon suite out to someone else.
