Chapter Nineteen

She stood at the side of the house, willing herself not to cry. It was always easier for her when she got angry. Standing there for a few minutes she was able to do it. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to rip him to shreds.

She raced around to the front of the house, ready to let him have it.

"He left, Katie. Kevin drove him somewhere."

She whirled around to face Danny. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello to you too." He said, a bit hurt. "I'm here to pick Maggie up."

She didn't want him to see her like this. She took a deep breath and decided she was angry enough at him to let him have it instead. "Forgive me if I'm not overjoyed to see you."

He looked at her and nodded. "I don't expect you to be. C'mon Katie. What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" She asked, still annoyed.

"What are you doing with this guy? You don't even know him. If it's just to make me jealous you don't have to Katie…"

Kate glared at him with disgust. "Oh my God. Get over yourself, Thornhart."

"Katie…" This was a mistake. He knew he was in for it now.

She was so angry she could barely see. Her voice shook and began to rise. "This is so not about you. As a matter of fact I don't get why any of this is your business."

"Kate. Please. I know you're angry but I really do care about you." He tried again.

"Uh huh. Sure. So much that you just couldn't control yourself and break up with me before you started with Taylor. Please Danny. Spare me." Kate turned her back on him. "You know what? Why don't you go get your sister and get the hell out of here."

He gently grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. "Katie. C'mon."


Her voice was deadly and her fists were clenched. "Danny. I am warning you. If you don't want a black eye you'll get your hands off me. Now."

Danny knew she would do it too. He was about to give up when he heard something that had fear snaking up his spine.

"Is there a problem over here?" Rafe asked as he came around from the back of the house.

"No sir." Danny said, releasing his hold. Kate's father always scared him to death.

"Katie?" Rafe asked.

"I'm fine Daddy." Kate said, willing herself not to cry. She hugged her arms around herself and struggled to remain calm. She still felt ready to punch someone's lights out.

"Are you here for Maggie?" Rafe asked, his eyes cold as he stared at Danny.

"Yes sir." Danny replied quietly.

"Do you see her in the front of the house?" Rafe asked him then.

Danny swallowed and tried to find his voice. "No sir."

"Then what are you still doing here?"

Rafe almost smiled when he saw Danny take off for the backyard in a run. He turned to look at his daughter.

"I'm fine." She said, her eyes betraying her.

"Katie." His voice held a warning.

She shook her head and tried to make him believe her. "I'm OK. I'll be OK."

Rafe walked over and pulled her into a hug. "Why do you bother with these guys anyway? None of them are good enough for you."


She had to laugh then. "Daddy…"

"Don't make fun of me. I'm serious." Rafe insisted.

"I know you are." Kate laughed harder. "That's why it's so funny."

Rafe kissed the top of her head. "So. Where'd the Band Guy go?"

"You've been talking to Becky huh?"

"Yeah. Your mother thinks it's funny."

"She's got a crush on him." Kate smiled as she pulled away.

"Who? Becky?"

"No. Mom." Kate giggled and rolled her eyes at the look on her father's face. "Of course Becky."

He was not ready to deal with this. "OK. That's enough. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"No." Kate sighed. "Daddy - relax. You won't have to worry about him. He's gone. He's leaving town."

Rafe's first thought was, Good riddance. But then he looked at Kate's face.

"You've got a crush on him too huh?" He said, though it made his heart hurt.

"He was alright." She shrugged.

"Katie." He warned her.

Kate looked at her father and was concerned for his heath, "Dad. Honestly, you should go scare Danny some more and send Mom out here. This is a dangerous subject. If you keep up this conversation you're not going to like what you find out."

Rafe knew she was right. "I'm just worried about you."

Hearing his words her heart melted. "I know you are and you're incredibly good at it."

Satisfied that she was OK for the moment, he began to walk away. Curious, he turned back to ask her one last thing. "Were you really going to punch him?"

Suddenly feeling much better, she laughed loudly. "If you hadn't come along? Absolutely."

Rafe smiled widely as he said. "That's my girl."