Tess Gerritsen: Peggy Sue Got Murdered

At noon, another visitor showed up. There was a knock, and then Maeve appeared. She didn't come in at first; she just stood in the doorway, staring across the room at her sleeping father. She was stuffed tight as a sausage into a black leather dress, but her' rainbow-tinted hair had been gathered almost demurely into a ponytail, and her face was white with fear.

"Is he gonna be all right?" she said.

"I think so," said M. J. "Why don't you come in?"

Maeve crept almost timidly to the bedside. She said, "Dad?" Adam didn't stir.

"Sleeping meds," said M. J. "He's out cold."

Maeve touched her father's face, then pulled away, as though embarrassed.

"He almost died," said M. J.

For a moment Maeve didn't respond; she just stared at Adam. Softly she said, "He drove me crazy, y'know? Telling me what to do, what not to do. But he was always there. I have to say that for the old man. He was always there…" She wiped her hand over her eyes. Then, abruptly, she turned and walked toward the door.

"Maeve?"

Maeve stopped, looked back. "Yeah?"

"Come back. When he's awake."

Maeve shrugged. "Maybe," she said, and left the room.

You'll be back , M. J. thought with a smile.

It was late afternoon when Adam finally stirred and opened his eyes, The first face he saw was M. J.'s gazing down at him.

"Hello, hero," she whispered.

He groaned. "Who are you talking to?"

"To you." She leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips. "Adam Quantrell." As she pulled back, his face blurred away through her tears.

Slowly he reached up and caught her teardrop as it fell. "I didn't know M. J. Novak could cry," he murmured.

"Neither did I. Until I almost lost you."

They stared at each other, both of them hovering on the edge of confession.

"I was wrong about you, Adam," she said. "I thought you'd run at the first sign of trouble. But you were there for me. You crazy man. You stupid man." She shook her head and she laughed. "You saved my life."

"If that's what it takes," he whispered. "To keep you."

She bent down. The touch of his lips brought new tears to her eyes. Yes, M. J.Novak can cry , she thought. It only takes the right man .

Maybe I'll drive you crazy and you'll drive me crazy. Maybe we'll bounce around on the edge of madness, trying to weave our lives together. Is it worth it?

He smiled. She smiled.

And they both knew, without saying a word, that he would always do what it took to keep her.

And she would stay.