A/N: Two definitions for you - but I think you already know them well. And you know who I'm talking to when I say YOU!!! Until the next time you come begging. LOL! xox-G
more (môr, mr)
adj. Comparative of many., much.
Greater in number: a hall with more seats.
Greater in size, amount, extent, or degree: more land; more support.
Additional; extra: She needs some more time.
n.
A greater or additional quantity, number, degree, or amount: The more I see of you the more I like you.
pron.
(used with a pl. verb) A greater or additional number of persons or things: I opened only two bottles but more were in the refrigerator.
greed·y ( P ) (grd)
adj. greed·i·er, greed·i·est
Excessively desirous of acquiring or possessing, especially wishing to possess more than what one needs or deserves.
Wanting to eat or drink more than one can reasonably consume; gluttonous.
Extremely eager or desirous: greedy for the opportunity to prove their ability.
Chapter Five
"Hey! There's my Kit Kat!" Mike said with a huge grin. "Long time no see!"
Rafe and Kate walked into the diner and took seats right at the counter. Kate had known Mike forever. She'd craved the cheeseburgers here since before she was born, or so her father always said. Her mom had him come here at all hours of the night when she was pregnant with her and any of her weird cravings never fazed Mike in the least.
Rafe had been bringing Kate to visit with Mike since before she could walk. He gave her the nickname one day when she was about 4. She came into the diner with her dad, carrying a candy bar and wearing a face full of chocolate. Next to Abby's bookshop, this was her favorite place on earth.
Mike set her Diet Coke down even before she really settled in, then dragged over a full bottle of ketchup. He knew well that she liked tons of it on her fries.
"Hi Mike!" She said with a half smile.
Mike got a cup of coffee for Rafe as he asked. "How you doing?"
"OK, thanks." Rafe grinned. "How're Mary and the kids?"
Mike and his wife had 5 kids of their own. They were older and all married now.
"Just great! Got myself a new grandbaby." He said proudly as he pulled a picture out of his apron pocket.
"She's beautiful." Kate whispered as she stared at the picture.
"I think so too. Speaking of beautiful – tell me something Kit Kat. When you gonna dump that dopey Irish kid and marry me?" He teased.
"If Mary'd let me I'd marry you tomorrow," She said sadly "…since he dumped me today."
Her words made Rafe angry all over again. He ran a hand over Kate's head and rested his arm on the back of her chair.
Mike stared at her in shock. "I knew he was dopey – but is he that stupid?"
Kate looked from Mike to her father and had to laugh. They were both so furious.
"Apparently." She said with a little grin.
"Just let him try to order something here again. He'll find out real fast that he's cut off." Mike voice left no doubt that he was completely serious.
"Well. I'm glad to hear I get custody of the diner at least." She tried to laugh but it came out a bit strangled. She could feel her eyes filling up and she knew everything was about to catch up with her.
"I'll be OK." She said trying her best to compose herself. "Right now – more than anything - I'm starving."
"That I can fix – no problem. Your burger will done in a sec." Mike promised.
As he moved to the kitchen he gave her a wink. "Let me tell you something. You listen to me. If Danny couldn't see how lucky he was then he's not worth it. Don't you waste your tears on him."
"I won't." She said, taking a deep breath and rubbing at her eyes. It was a good thing they were the only ones in the diner at the moment. Besides Mike and the cook that is.
She turned to look at Rafe and as she did, Kate finally lost it. Her bottom lip quivered and she suddenly began to sob. "I know. He's right. I shouldn't cry over him, Daddy – but I can't help it."
The sound of her crying just about broke Rafe's heart. "Oh Katie…" He whispered as he pulled her close.
He held her for a few long minutes, letting her cry. Tears rained down her cheeks as she tried to talk. "I don't know what to do. I was always so sure we were meant to be together and now..."
Rafe didn't know what to do either. Alison usually handled stuff like this. He guessed he deserved it. He was so hell bent on picking Kate up from the bus. He kissed the top of her head and held her tighter, rocking her back and forth a bit.
"What's wrong with me? Huh? Why doesn't he want me?" She realized something and it gave her a start. "You know what? Now I know how Uncle Jamal felt." Kate said with a sniffle as she laid her head on his chest and clutched his shirt in her hand.
"What?" He asked, still distracted by her tears.
"When Mom fell in love with you and broke up with him." She sighed. "Now I know what it's like."
"Is that what happened?" Rafe asked, his voice full of disbelief as he took her face in his hands. "He's with someone else?"
"Yeah…" She nodded. Something told her she should leave out the little detail that she practically caught both of them in the shower together. Not to mention her intention for going up there in the first place. Her father wouldn't approve. As a matter of fact - if he knew it would probably give him a fatal heart attack.
Oblivious to all of that, Rafe's voice began to rise. "If he can't see how amazing and beautiful you are then trust me. You're better off without him. I can't believe he's so stupid. What kind of kid did Ian raise anyway? What an idiot."
She shook her head at him. "Stop. Dad. Danny's not an idiot. I don't think it's like that. He says he's in love with her and I believe him. He didn't really want to hurt me. He wasn't planning to fall in love with her. He met her and it just happened."
Talking about it made her start to feel better. She took a deep breath and eased away a bit. "Sometimes things work out that way. Look at you and Mom. When you met her I'm sure she didn't want to hurt Uncle Jamal either."
"That was completely different." For a lot of reasons, Rafe thought to himself.
Finally crying had made her feel a lot better. She didn't know exactly what she would do, but letting it all out was a start.
She sat back in her chair and dabbed her eyes with her napkin. "I'm just saying that maybe this had to happen so that I could eventually find the person I'm truly supposed to be with. You know - Julia said Lynnie had a vision the other day of me with someone new. I brushed it off but maybe she's onto something."
Abby and Cam's twin girls were even more dangerous when they teamed up with Kate. Rafe suspected it was because Julia - at least, was just like her mother, always looking for trouble. Lynnie, the one who could actually see the future, thank goodness, was more quiet and reserved.
"Your cousin has a gift, that's true. Maybe she is but there's no need to rush this though is there? Let's just wait and see OK?"
"OK." Kate smiled at Mike as he put down her plate. It never failed. He made the perfect burger - just how she liked it. Loads of extra pickles and onions. He even brought her a chocolate milkshake. He could tell she needed it.
More content than she'd been in hours, she turned and rolled her eyes at Rafe. "You know. You can't fool me Dad. I know what it really is. You're just nervous because this new guy might not be someone you've known since the dawn of time." She said with a giggle.
"Katie. You're killing me." Rafe said as he grabbed a fry off her plate. "Let's get over this guy first before you start talking about someone new. Please?"
He sighed as he looked at his daughter. She was so beautiful and suddenly, she sounded so wise. He remembered how he used to bring her here, so small she just sat in a seat on the counter. "God, Katrina. You grew up so fast. It just happened while I wasn't looking."
"Dad." Kate replied with a smile, picking up her burger and getting ready to dig in. "Who are you kidding? You've watched over me every single minute."
He looked so sad and lost. Poor Dad, Kate thought as she smiled wider. She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek, her heart bursting with love. "That's why – even though you sometimes overdo it a bit - you're the absolute best in the world."
"I'm the best, huh?" He said, feeling a bit better as he grinned back at her.
She took a huge bite and said with a nod. "No contest."