I perch on the edge of my bed, with Archie sitting with his legs in criss-cross applesauce form on the floor.

"You may spot a squat here, next to me if you like," I say, patting the empty space next to me.

"Thank you kindly, but that would be very inappropriate, as no man should take advantage of a women's bed if they are not wed".

"Nonsense, Archie, it's not as if we are..." I trail off, my cheeks becoming flushed.

"Nevermind that," he continues, saving me from utter humiliation. "What shall we speak of"? 

"I don't have a clue," I say, twiddling my thumbs. 

"Well," he says, mysteriously, stopping to peer around my room as if someone might hear us speaking, "we could always talk about the plan to speak to your grandmother tomorrow morning".

"But won't my mother hear us"?

"Do you not remember watching her go outside? We will be fine". 

I give one last look around my bedroom and sigh, "Alright".

"So," he starts, "how will we get your mother out of the room"?

"And Emmett".

"What"?

"And Emmett. He will be there as well".

"He won't be at work with your father"?

"No, so we need them both out of the parlor".

"Parlor"?

"Yes, the parlor, stop questioning everything I say. Grandmother Josephine has a parlor where she enjoys resting during the day".

"Okay. Do you wish for me to act as a decoy"?

"What"?

"A decoy. It's another words for-",

"I know what it means, I'm not stupid"!

"I never called you stupid".

"I- I know, I'm sorry I'm overreacting, I am just very stressed because of the amount of trouble we could be in if mother finds out".

"Are you positive that your grandmother won't go blabbing to your mother about this"?

"Yes. Emmett may be grandmother's favorite, but I have my ways of winning grandmother over".

"How so"?

"She loves her hard candy". 

"Hard... candy"?

"Werther's Original hard caramel candy".

"Oh". 

"Well, then we may as well rack up some hard candy, do you have a stash"?

"Mother keeps a tin for when grandmother visits. I'm quite certain she won't mind if I swipe a few".

"Brilliant, you do that after I leave, and we will continue this plotting tomorrow".

"Very well," I say, "thank you for assisting me with this, Archie, you're a real pal".

"You are very welcome, and I expect you to do my schoolwork for me this following week".

"Fair," I huff.

"I am only joking, Nora, no need to tie yourself in a knot".