"Never tried this before." Kali lifted the glass bottle of grape juice Ember purchased for them. She twisted the cap off and took a swig. "That's delicious."

"My favourite brand of bottled juice. They have different flavours, from grape to apple, but I usually introduce people to the grapes first. It's an instant hit." She thought on her words. "Most of the time."

"It's a hit with me." Kali took another sip.

The sunglasses came on when they walked out of the chilly mall and into the blazing sun. The weather had taken a turn for the worst. It had been that way the entire week, and the forecasts predicted a fall in the temperature in the following week. Till then, they had to make do with the unbearable conditions.

"Are you ready for dinner?"

"Which one?"

Ember chuckled. "Nice. The one at my house. For our grandfather."

"I think I am. It's just introductions."

The look on her face before she turned away was the exact reason Kali wanted to befriend her. There were things Samuel didn't think of touching, didn't think of discussing. Things that left her in the dark about things she wanted to know. Ember was her way into that unknown. The best way to see into their family dynamic.

"No need to turn around. What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Lying so early into our first conversation? Are you trying to make me nervous? Isn't it just a simple introduction?"

"I am keeping quiet because I don't make you nervous."

"Let me tell you that it's not working."

"Okay. It's nothing too serious. It's just that my grandfather is a bit..." Ember paused to pick out the best word. "He is a bit peculiar."

"Peculiar?"

"He doesn't do well with outliers. I think I am saying that right. He isn't warm and welcoming with people he doesn't know, and he doesn't know you. I would hate for you to meet him and have his attitude throw you off."

"So, he'd be hard on me."

"Exactly, maybe a little more questioning and interrogatory than he should be, but it's how he is." Ember looked straight at her. "My grandfather is a classist, amongst many of his other qualities. He is not a bad person, but he comes off as one, most of the time. Especially when you don't know him well."

"Samuel didn't mention any of this."

"I suspected as much Samuel is not big on discussing our grandfather."

Kali fought the grin that threatened to spread over her face. Her plan just kept coming together. She was making everything easy. All Kali had to do was play her cards right. An outing didn't mean trust or friendship, but it was a step in that direction. The more she knew, the closer she got to her goals.

"Samuel doesn't like to tell me things." Kali mused as they settled on a bench facing the road. "I think he believes he is protecting me in some way. I don't know how to assure him I can handle things."

"He is like that sometimes. I am sure he blames himself partly for thrusting you into our family dynamic without adequately preparing you."

"I am trying to convince him that I don't need protecting. I want to know things. Like..." she hesitated. "Will this, you know, stay between us? I know you are very close with Samuel, but I have no one else to talk to right now."

"Of course. What is it?"

"I don't know. It seems his relationship with Ysabel isn't the best. I know she wasn't the biggest fan of our marriage and everything, but I didn't think I would strain their relationship so much. I want to help him, you know," she interlocked her finger, "bridge the gap I caused."

"There is no gap."

"Don't treat me like he tries to because I am not blind. I see how distant they look and the tension each time we meet."

"Kali, you didn't cause it."

"Not deliberately, but it's usually the outsider's fault when it comes to family drama, isn't it?"

"Not this time, trust me. Samuel has a bit of a rough relationship with our mother. And that was long before your relationship came out. She doesn't always agree with a lot of his decisions."

"Oh," Kali feigned surprise. "I thought it was because she preferred his relationship with Flora."

"What?"

"You know, his ex-girlfriend? I know our relationship seems like a whirlwind romance, and no one really had time to adjust to such a dramatic change. I thought Ysabel preferred Flora to me."

Ember laughed, pushing her sunglasses to rest on her head. "No, it's definitely not for that. Don't worry about it too much. My mother will come around when she wants to come around."

"Well, that makes me feel a little better. I don't know why he wouldn't just say that. It's not a novelty to be on odd terms with your parent, once in a while."

"Can I be blunt with you?"

"The last time someone from your family asked me that, it was brutal."

"I promise to be gentle." Ember chuckled, obviously amused.

"Sure thing."

"Why marry so soon? You can't tell me you know everything important about each other. And please don't give me the 'love of my life' line."

Kali didn't allow her eyes to waver for a second. The question was one she expected, but she was always prepared to answer it by proclaiming her great love for Samuel. Unmeasurable and indescribable love for Samuel was the best pillar to stand behind as a defence. Without it, she needed to give a convincing answer. Love didn't have to mean immediate marriage; she knew that. Ember was asking why they needed to marry, not why they loved each other. So, Kali thought about the best thing to say. She needed to come off as truthful.

"I have always believed in marriage. Since I was a girl. I dreamt of having a marriage like my parents, honest and filled with love. When I met Samuel, there was nothing special about our encounter, but there was everything special about it at the same time. I needed him, and he needed me. It wasn't ideal, it wasn't planned, we weren't prepared, but that's how it felt."

Kali recalled Samuel's confession of being ready to marry Flora before his mother threatened him to do the opposite.

"In truth, we didn't need to marry. Especially since our biggest fear is the high rate of divorces these days. We would have been safer dating until we were sure we loved everything about each other, but we didn't want to be safe. I didn't want to be safe. Samuel was ready to get married, and I always dreamed of marrying a man I loved. When Samuel proposed, I said yes immediately."

"You could have remained engaged for another year or more."

"Maybe. There is no explanation I can give that will make sense to anyone. It's like trying to explain why my favourite colour is my favourite colour. Aside from me preferring it over others there is nothing overtly special about it."

"Aren't you afraid that there is something about him you don't know? Something that can force you two apart later?"

"Every day. I have heard about the honeymoon phase, and I am sure that's what you all think we are going through, right? I am sure you believe once the beauty of the relationship fades, we will realise we are married to people we know very little about."

"That's part of it."

"Time will tell eventually, but he and I are ready to defend our relationship. We are trying to make things work, even if it seems we are doing this backwards."

Ember shrugged. "I guess it's better than eloping."

"According to whom." Kali doubted she was out of the woods, but she was more than prepared to steer the conversation away from her. "Left to me, I would have preferred a smaller wedding."

"I saw the pictures of your wedding, I think it looked beautiful. I want to have a big wedding."

"You don't say."

"I do say."

"So, are you in a relationship now?"

"Nah. Haven't dated in a while."

"Why?"

Ember thought about it. "Lack of opportunity and effort."

"I don't understand."

"No one has shown interest, and I don't want to put any effort into looking for one. I am currently enjoying being single. When a man falls into my lap, I'll hold him tight."

"So you're telling me that there is absolutely no one that interests you?"

"You'd be surprised how interesting I find single life."

"I have been single and enjoyed it a lot, but I also enjoyed having a few fantasies here and there that kept me company."

"Really?" Kali nodded, and Ember grinned. "Are those still going on? The fantasies, I mean."

"I see what you're doing, and you aren't getting anything from me."

She zipped her lips shut with an invisible zipper and grabbed her bag. Ember laughed out loud, following behind her.

"Come on, you can tell me. I won't say a word to Samuel."

"Instead of prying into my world of fantasies, why don't you open up the family books and give me some cheat codes."

"Cheat codes?"

"To survive the dinner with your grandfather. I already made a sour impression on two family members, I don't want it to be three."

"You suck at evasion."

"You haven't seen me play cards. You'd be pleasantly surprised how I can turn things around."

Ember rolled her eyes and playfully swung her backpack, clipping a chuckling Kali on the shoulder.

"I am being serious about the cheat codes."

"Fine." Ember threaded her arm through Kali's. "First step is seeing the dress you picked out for the dinner. You may or may not be changing it."