Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. I've been kind of busy. Anyway, here is the next chappie! Enjoy! :)

Chapter 6 – Monday

"Melanie," Daisy spoke her niece's name as the said girl was working in her aunt's garden planting colorful geraniums. Melanie was filthy with dirt all over her hands, face and pants she borrowed from her deceased uncle.

"Yes, Aunt Daisy?" Melanie wiped her sweaty brow and smiled.

"After you finish here could you run an errand for me?"

"Of course I will, Aunt Daisy," Melanie replied.

"Great," Daisy rolled herself back into the house from her niece. Melanie continued her work.

"I'm 'Enery the Eighth, I am, 'Enery the Eighth I am, I am! I got married to the widow next door, she's been married seven times before and every one was an 'Enery. She wouldn't have a Willie nor a Sam. I'm her eighth old man named 'Enery, 'Enery the Eighth, I am!" She sang lowly in a terrible British accent. She wiggled her hips with her the tune until she heard someone clear their throat behind her. She cautiously turned her head to see who it was.

Her cheeks went red for there was man standing behind her. He was tall, young, blonde and blue eyes. He was handsome even with the beard on his face. Melanie was not the type of girl who favored beard but this looked well on the man.

"Hello," She smiled still on all fours with her behind facing him.

"Good morning," He smiled charmingly which made her blush more.

"How can I help you?"

"I am Dr. Reynolds. I am here to see Mrs. Brooke," He presented his black doctor bag.

"Oh! I'm her niece, Melanie Graham," She finally tried to stand up so to shake his hand but her legs had fallen asleep and therefore leaving her without support. She thought she would fall into her newly planted flowers but luckily the doctor managed to wrap his arm around her stomach to catch her. She turned around coming almost nose to nose with the young doctor and his arm became wrapped around her back making her pressed against him. They both went completely red in the face. He pulled away from her.

"You're…um…legs must have lost circulation from your positioning," the doctor deduced awkwardly. Melanie nodded her head as she stared into his bright blue orbs. She decided to look away towards the street behind him. She went rigid as she saw the one person she wished had not seen her in this compromising position. Stephanie Crawford was going to have filed day. Melanie could just see it being printed in the papers as "Montgomery hussy caught in passionate embrace with young doctor". Melanie wanted to call after the woman to explain but the woman walked off too quickly. Melanie decided to let her go and talk with the doctor.

"So you are here to see my aunt? I'll take you inside, sir," Melanie played hostess and led him onto the porch where she removed her shoes lest Lorna get upset about tracking mud all over the clean floor. It was hard for Melanie to remove the boots and the doctor would not enter without the lady and so they started a conversation.

"So are you from around here, Dr. Reynolds?" Melanie inquired.

"Yes, I was born here. Where are you from, Miss Graham?"

"Oh, I am from Montgomery."

"Montgomery! I went to medical school in Montgomery," The doctor's eyes lit up.

"Really? When did you go?"

"Oh, I graduated two years ago and I have been a doctor down here ever since."

"Two years ago? Then you would have been with my cousin Jem Graham, uh, I mean Jeremy Graham. Do you know him?"

"Jem? Yes, I know Jem. He was a very good friend of mine. We still correspond. You are his cousin? Wait, you are Mel-Lou?"

"Yes! Are you Chris?"

"Yes, I'm Christopher Reynolds! It is strange we've never met before now."

"I know! Jem was always talking about you. He even told me he invited you to one of my father's annual Christmas parties."

"Oh, yes, he did but I was unable to go because of some family issues."

"Oh, I see. Well, I am glad to finally meet you. May I call you Chris?"

"Only if I may call you Mel-Lou."

"Then we are agreed, Chris."

The two were in such a happy and involved mood they were unaware that Daisy had rolled up to the couple.

"Hello, Dr. Reynolds," Daisy interrupted with an obviously unhappy look on her face.

"Oh, hello, Mrs. Brooke," The doctor forced himself to look away from Melanie.

"Melanie, can you go run that errand for me now?" Daisy seemed impatient.

"Um, yes, Aunt Daisy, but what is it you want me to do?"

"Here," Daisy put an envelope in her niece's hand, "Take this to Atticus, for me."

"Well, I'll be back then later," Melanie was just grinning from ear to ear as she left the doctor and patient. She slipped her feet back into her filthy boots and went on her way downtown completely forgetting she was in trousers and filthy.

Unbeknownst to Melanie, she was being watched by more than one person. The blue eyes of the young doctor followed her figure from the window in the Brooke house with fondness. The green eyes of Daisy flickered between Chris and Melanie. She was not amused by this coupling. Sure, Dr. Reynolds was a nice man but he was not the one Daisy wanted for her niece.

Melanie seemed unfazed by the stares of the Maycomb community as she walked downtown. She was just too thrilled to have met someone who knew the same people she did. She stepped to the door of Atticus's law building still thinking about the friendly doctor. She knocked.

"Come in," the voice of the lawyer rumbled sending an involuntary shiver down Melanie's spine.

"Good morning, Mr. Atticus," She beamed to him.

Atticus looked up from his file to see Melanie covered in dirt and in men's trousers smiling. He should have greeted her with the politeness he always had but this rape case combined with his mental battle over his strange new desires and the feelings of rejection from Melanie made him uncivil.

"Good morning, Miss Graham," He bellowed. Melanie felt like she had been slapped in the face when she heard Atticus's tone and his use of her surname.

Is something wrong? Did I do something? Is he upset with me? What did I do? Maybe I'm bothering him…

Melanie regained her smile and held out Aunt Daisy's letter, "I've come to deliver this letter for you from my aunt."

Atticus stood from his chair, crossed the room and took the letter. He opened it before Melanie without a word. Melanie could not resist smelling him from their close distance. She did not mean to but she sniffed his sweet, clean smell.

He always smells so clean and fresh. I like it so much. Unlike Chris who smelt like sausages. The random fact popped into her head out of nowhere. She did not even remember smelling Chris.

Atticus let his eyes wander over the letter's contents but could not help but feel like he heard sniffing. He ignored it and continued reading the letter which said:

Dear Atticus,

Today Dr. Reynolds has come to my house and he will be here for a few hours treating me. If you do not mind I would greatly appreciate if you would keep Melanie busy during these next few hours. I do not want her to see me until after my meeting with Dr. Reynolds. If you cannot keep her, please send her to Maude.

Sincerely,

Daisy Brooke

Atticus finished and knew he needed to help out Daisy for Maude had informs Atticus that morning that she was going to go visit a friend in Abbottsville. Atticus sighed and looked to Melanie who stood smiling. She was like a child who had just been playing around in the garden, had gotten filthy and had come inside unaware of the dirt trail she left. He knew he should help out Daisy with keeping Melanie away but he was just too upset with her. He looked down at Melanie who stared up at him in question.

"Have I done something wrong, Mr. Atticus? Because if I have I am truly sorry," Her blue eyes were full of sincerity. Right there! Atticus's heart jump and all was forgiven.

"No, Miss Melanie," The familiarity brought a smile back to her face, "I was just wondering if you would not mind being my secretary for the day."

"I would not mind. What do I need to do?" She was excited at an opportunity to do something.

"First, you better wash up a little," He pointed to the lavatory in his office. She nodded confusedly but went to the lavatory. When she looked in the mirror she went crimson again. She could see the dirt smudge don her face, her frantic curls in her bun sticking out in all directions and her clothes were atrocious. She could not believe Daisy let her leave in such a state or that she saw Atticus like this. She must have seen insane. She spent a good ten minutes scrubbing the dirt from her body and clothes. She made herself clean but her clothes were still dirty but not as dirty. She came back into Atticus's office sheepishly.

"So what do you need me to do?" Melanie inquired to Atticus. He looked up to her with a kind smile and began instructing her to help him file some things and other dull things that a secretary was to do yet Melanie enjoyed her work. She worked diligently and cheerfully. This was strange for Atticus. It was usually just him alone in his gloomy office working but Melanie was now there smiling and working with him. He enjoyed it. Before either one knew it, the clock revealed they had forgotten lunch and were entering the late afternoon.

"Miss Melanie, I am so sorry," Atticus apologize once he realized the time and they were both leaving his office.

"That is alright, Mr. Atticus. It was enjoyable," She readjusted her ill-fitting pants nervously as they moseyed down the road together. Atticus smiled to himself. He was glad she had enjoyed their busy time together.