When Atticus woke up to the sound of a church clock strucking six o'clock, his wife was still fast asleep. He quickly took a shower and got dressed. Then, he walked to a coffee bar not far from the hotel to read the papers and drink milk, as he disliked coffee. There weren't many people in town yet, and Atticus enjoyed the tranquility with a city-like atmosphere. He paid and got back to the hotel, where Jean was taking her shower. "Would you like to join me?" she yelled from the bathroom after Atticus had wished her a good morning. Atticus smiled to himself but declined; they would have enough time to do things like that. After a while she got out, fully dressed and ready to go. Together, they walked downstairs to have breakfast. "Honey, I hope you can forgive me for my behaviour yesterday. I don't know whether you really understood my apology this morning." Atticus ruffled her hair. "It's alright, dear. Let's just make a nice day out of it, okay?" Jean nodded and kissed his shoulder.
After breakfast, the two went to the newly built Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. They had heard about the special architecture of the building and agreed with the positive public opinion. When they had finished their cultural visit, they went to a restaurant for lunch. "So how has it been at the legislature?" Jean asked. "I think all the time that you're just having a vacation like me, but you're doing work, Atticus!" He laughed. "Just the usual, sweet. There have been no special meetings or so." "Atticus,"Jean asked suddenly, "your brother Jack works and lives in Nashville, doesn't he?" Atticus was surprised at the change of subject. "Yes honey, why do you ask?" "Well, I suddenly realised we have seen Alexandra a lot lately, but not him. I had forgotten what the reason was. The last time I saw him, was at your mother's funeral...sorry, Atticus." "Oh no, it's fine," Atticus said. "Honey, maybe I should tell you something, or maybe you already knew... Jack was in love with you, or is. I'm not sure, but that may also be a reason we don't see him so often." Jean stared at him in disbelief, then laughed. "No, I didn't know...do...oh! You two are not having a fight about...about me?" Atticus smiled too. "No honey, we never talked about it since he told me he was in love with you. I don't know why I told you...I hope you're not embarassed. You know Jack can't live with anyone except for his cat." "No, I'm not embarassed..." Jean said. "I'm flattered. I hope you understand I don't love him in that way, don't you?" "Of course I know, honey.," Atticus said. "Shall we change the subject?" Jean agreed.
They walked through town some more, after their lunch, but it was getting onto five when they both felt like going back to the hotel. There they made love, quickly and fiercely. They were in each other's arms for a while, chattering about their children and how they loved each other and Scout and Jem. But all over sudden, Jean got serious. "Honey," she started. "I'm scared sometimes." Atticus kissed her neck. "Scared of what, sweet?" She looked up. "You know that there's a heart defect running in my family. My grandfather, one of his sisters, ancestors before...my mother...you remember? She died not long after I got pregnant with Jem." Atticus nodded. He knew and remembered. Jean had suddenly gotten a call telling that her mother had dropped dead. She was devastated, but unable to cry until that night. "Atticus, do you understand? What if I...or what if I gave it to our children, too?" "You did not, Jean," Atticus said. "Your mother was old when it happened. You're right, there is a chance, but it will not happen. I love you way too much for that, and we both love Scout and Jem too much for it." Atticus knew that his answer didn't make much sense, but didn't want to think about a future in which he would lose his wife, or one of his children. "I won't be able to live without you Jean. Your heart is perfect." Don't be scared, it won't happen. And when it does, it's when you're getting close to a hundred. I love you." Jean discussed the subject no more, but offered the idea of going out for dinner. She was starving and it was getting late. At the bar where they went to, there would be dance music. Jean and Atticus took their chance and swung around the dance floor, laughing happily. It was somewhat after midnight when they walked back through the dark streets. Jean, still full of energy, hung onto Atticus's arm and sometimes swiftly made a dance turn, causing Atticus to be pulled with her. They arrived at the hotel, and when Atticus was opening the lock, Jean carefully traced kisses over his neck, her arms clasped around his waist. "You're torturing me," Atticus said, fumbling with the lock. When he finally got it open, they half-fell into the room. "Honey," Atticus spoke in his low voice, "I love you." It seemedseemed to launch off their wildly ripping off clothes and kissing each other everywhere hungrily. They dropped on the bed, Jean still busy with Atticus's fly. "God, honey, why are you wearing so many clothes," she groaned between kisses. "Why do you," Atticus rumbled back. When they finally were naked, they encountered a wild act of desire and passion, full with kisses, loud groans and heavily slamming hips. After reaching their climax, Atticus rolled off Jean, panting loudly. He pushed his head against the side of her chest. Sweat off his hairline dripped onto her her breast. Jesus Christ," Jean whispered when she finally got air.
AN: Alright, I assume you are expecting I'm getting close to Jean's...no. There are still some chapters left, I don't want to think about it! I hope this chapter about a day in Montgomery didn't disappoint you, it was impossible to find interesting things there before 1960 and therefore I put in some random stuff about Jack...well, I hope the rest made it up to you :)