--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Matt’s housekeeper let him in with a…" description: "\"“Matt’s housekeeper let him in with a grimace. “I’m harmless today,” Tate assured the woman as she led the way to where Matt Holden was standing just o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/diana-palmer-4730_education_matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-gri_2157146.png" --- # Matt’s housekeeper let him in with a grimace. “I’m… ![“Matt’s housekeeper let him in with a grimace. “I’m harmless today,” Tate assured the woman as she led the way to where Matt Holden was standing just outside the study door. “Right. You and two odd species of cobra,” Matt murmured sarcastically, glaring at his son from a tanned face. “What do you…” quote by Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/diana-palmer-4730_education_matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-gri_2157146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/diana-palmer-4730_education_matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-gri_2157146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/diana-palmer-4730_education_matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-gri_2157146.png) > ““Matt’s housekeeper let him in with a grimace. “I’m harmless today,” Tate assured the woman as she led the way to where Matt Holden was standing just outside the study door. “Right. You and two odd species of cobra,” Matt murmured sarcastically, glaring at his son from a tanned face. “What do you want, a bruise to match the other one?” Tate held up both hands. “Don’t start,” he said. Matt moved out of the way with reluctance and closed the study door behind them. “Your mother’s gone shopping,” he said. “Good. I don’t want to talk to her just yet.” Matt’s eyebrows levered up. “Oh?” Tate dropped into the wing chair across from the senator’s bulky armchair. “I need some advice.” Matt felt his forehead. “I didn’t think a single malt whiskey was enough to make me hallucinate,” he said to himself. Tate glowered at him. “You’re not one of my favorite people, but you know Cecily a little better than I seem to lately.” “Cecily loves you,” Matt said shortly, dropping into his chair. “That’s not the problem,” Tate said. He leaned forward, his hands clasped loosely between his splayed knees. “Although I seem to have done everything in my power to make her stop.” The older man didn’t speak for a minute or two. “Love doesn’t die that easily,” he said. “Your mother and I are a case in point. We hadn’t seen each other for thirty-six years, but the instant we met again, the years fell away. We were young again, in love again.” “I can’t wait thirty-six years,” Tate stated. He stared at his hands, then he drew in a long breath. “Cecily’s pregnant.” The other man was quiet for so long that Tate lifted his eyes, only to be met with barely contained rage in the older man’s face. “Is it yours?” Matt asked curtly. Tate glowered at him. “What kind of woman do you think Cecily is? Of course it’s mine!” Matt chuckled. He leaned back in the easy chair and indulged the need to look at his son, to find all the differences and all the similarities in that younger version of his face. It pleased him to find so many familiar things. “We look alike,” Tate said, reading the intent scrutiny he was getting. “Funny that I never noticed that before.” Matt smiled. “We didn’t get along very well.” “Both too stubborn and inflexible,” Tate pointed out. “And arrogant.” Tate chuckled dryly. “Maybe.”” [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A complex dialogue reveals strained relationships, hidden motives, and emotional turmoil among characters. **In simple terms:** Characters grapple with love, betrayal, and secrets. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden emotions and communicate openly. Themes relationships betrayal family secrets Mood tense introspective Type dramatic psychological When to use this quote - family gatherings - conflict resolution - personal introspection - relationship counseling Key Concepts psychology communication trust Questions to Reflect On - How do secrets affect family dynamics? - What steps can restore trust after betrayal? A Different Perspective The narrative’s fragmented style may obscure clarity for readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s been six years, Tate. Believe me when I tell you . . . I’m ready.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/it-s-been-six-years-tate-believe-me-when-i-tell-you-i-m-ready/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Do you want me to beat the shit outta him when we get there?” Tate asked, sounding serious and I blinked at him. “What?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/do-you-want-me-to-beat-the-shit-outta-him-when-we-get-there-tate/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [My sisters are my favorite people on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/my-sisters-are-my-favorite-people-on-earth/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [Most of my favorite people in my life are gay. It's something I'm super passionate about, because whenever I would see my friends get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-grande/most-of-my-favorite-people-in-my-life-are-gay-it-s-something-i-m/) [Ariana Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-grande/) > [Of course, growing up, you listen to your favorite people on the radio and you want to have an album of your own and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-barrett/of-course-growing-up-you-listen-to-your-favorite-people-on-the-radio/) [Gabby Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-barrett/) > [George Jones was my all-time favorite singer and one of my favorite people in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/george-jones-was-my-all-time-favorite-singer-and-one-of-my-favorite/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Why are my least favorite people always the most durable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca/why-are-my-least-favorite-people-always-the-most-durable/) [Rebecca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca/) > [I love getting in the ring with Britt Baker. She is one of my favorite people that I got in the ring with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-blanchard/i-love-getting-in-the-ring-with-britt-baker-she-is-one-of-my-favorite/) [Tessa Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-blanchard/) > [It's a funny thing when you finally have an excuse to get all of your favorite people from all corners of the globe together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-baldwin/it-s-a-funny-thing-when-you-finally-have-an-excuse-to-get-all-of-your/) [Brooke Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-baldwin/) > [My favorite people to have fun with are police officers 'cause they're so serious, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/my-favorite-people-to-have-fun-with-are-police-officers-cause-they-re/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) > [Nothing beats cooking together, eating together and playing charades or Monopoly surrounded by my favorite people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-zarin/nothing-beats-cooking-together-eating-together-and-playing-charades/) [Jill Zarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-zarin/) > [I love art dealers. In some ways, they're my favorite people in the art world. Really. I love that they put their money where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/i-love-art-dealers-in-some-ways-they-re-my-favorite-people-in-the-art/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [Favorite People, Favorite Places, Favorite Memories of the past ... These are the joys of a lifetime Those are the things that last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/favorite-people-favorite-places-favorite-memories-of-the-past-these/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [My favorite people on the planet are Robert Downey Jr., Billy Joel and Kevin Feige.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-vellani/my-favorite-people-on-the-planet-are-robert-downey-jr-billy-joel-and/) [Iman Vellani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-vellani/) > [It's just funny because I think a long time back I was not a fan favorite at all, and now people have followed my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-askren/it-s-just-funny-because-i-think-a-long-time-back-i-was-not-a-fan/) [Ben Askren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-askren/) ## More by Diana Palmer > [“Go ahead. Ask me who the father is.” He only smiled. “Do I look that stupid to you?” She pushed back her short hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/go-ahead-ask-me-who-the-father-is-he-only-smiled-do-i-look-that/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“So the bloodline wasn’t pure.” He shook his head. “It was an excuse, like all the other excuses. I liked my life as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/so-the-bloodline-wasn-t-pure-he-shook-his-head-it-was-an-excuse-like/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“Revolutionaries can't afford to worry about tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/revolutionaries-can-t-afford-to-worry-about-tomorrow/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“You need a battle plan,” Matt advised. “I never left the base without detailed reconnaissance and a battle plan. It’s why I came home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/you-need-a-battle-plan-matt-advised-i-never-left-the-base-without/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [No revolution succeeds without sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/no-revolution-succeeds-without-sacrifice/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“Yes?” he said impatiently. There was a pause. “You wouldn’t believe how many people I had to bribe to get this new number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/yes-he-said-impatiently-there-was-a-pause-you-wouldn-t-believe-how/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“Leta walked to the door and opened it with a ready smile for Colby Lane. And found herself looking straight into the eye of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/leta-walked-to-the-door-and-opened-it-with-a-ready-smile-for-colby/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“Pity Matt didn’t help him through a window instead of over a sofa,” she grumbled. “He needs an attitude adjustment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/pity-matt-didn-t-help-him-through-a-window-instead-of-over-a-sofa-she/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“Leta will manage. She’s tough. But Tate is going to learn some things that will hurt him badly. I think he should hear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/leta-will-manage-she-s-tough-but-tate-is-going-to-learn-some-things/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“Is the world really a better place now that nothing is considered bad? People just do what they want, with anyone. How is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/is-the-world-really-a-better-place-now-that-nothing-is-considered-bad/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“You were just in South Dakota a couple of weeks ago,” he pointed out. “Why didn’t you get it then?” “It wasn’t available then.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/you-were-just-in-south-dakota-a-couple-of-weeks-ago-he-pointed-out/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“I know I said this before, but it bears repeating. You know Tate won’t like you staying with me.” “I don’t care,” she said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/i-know-i-said-this-before-but-it-bears-repeating-you-know-tate-won-t/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“Oh, it’s a little worse than that,” he said, nettled. “It makes you the illegitimate son of the senior Republican senator from South Dakota.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/oh-it-s-a-little-worse-than-that-he-said-nettled-it-makes-you-the/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“A little drop of Native American blood was exciting and unique. But a full-blooded Native American…she was horrified.” Cecily’s opinion of the legendary Maureen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/a-little-drop-of-native-american-blood-was-exciting-and-unique-but-a/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“She pulled the shawl closer as a tall, lithe figure cut across the parking lot and joined her at the passenger door. “You’re already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/she-pulled-the-shawl-closer-as-a-tall-lithe-figure-cut-across-the/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) [Explore all 107 Diana Palmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) Ioannes Amos Commenius > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Matt’s housekeeper let him in with a grimace. “I’m harmless today,” Tate assured the woman as she led the way to where Matt Holden was standing just outside the study door. “Right. You and two odd species of cobra,” Matt murmured sarcastically, glaring at his son from a tanned face. “What do you want, a bruise to match the other one?” Tate held up both hands. “Don’t start,” he said. Matt moved out of the way with reluctance and closed the study door behind them. “Your mother’s gone shopping,” he said. “Good. I don’t want to talk to her just yet.” Matt’s eyebrows levered up. “Oh?” Tate dropped into the wing chair across from the senator’s bulky armchair. “I need some advice.” Matt felt his forehead. “I didn’t think a single malt whiskey was enough to make me hallucinate,” he said to himself. Tate glowered at him. “You’re not one of my favorite people, but you know Cecily a little better than I seem to lately.” “Cecily loves you,” Matt said shortly, dropping into his chair. “That’s not the problem,” Tate said. He leaned forward, his hands clasped loosely between his splayed knees. “Although I seem to have done everything in my power to make her stop.” The older man didn’t speak for a minute or two. “Love doesn’t die that easily,” he said. “Your mother and I are a case in point. We hadn’t seen each other for thirty-six years, but the instant we met again, the years fell away. We were young again, in love again.” “I can’t wait thirty-six years,” Tate stated. He stared at his hands, then he drew in a long breath. “Cecily’s pregnant.” The other man was quiet for so long that Tate lifted his eyes, only to be met with barely contained rage in the older man’s face. “Is it yours?” Matt asked curtly. Tate glowered at him. “What kind of woman do you think Cecily is? Of course it’s mine!” Matt chuckled. He leaned back in the easy chair and indulged the need to look at his son, to find all the differences and all the similarities in that younger version of his face. It pleased him to find so many familiar things. “We look alike,” Tate said, reading the intent scrutiny he was getting. “Funny that I never noticed that before.” Matt smiled. “We didn’t get along very well.” “Both too stubborn and inflexible,” Tate pointed out. “And arrogant.” Tate chuckled dryly. “Maybe.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Palmer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-grimace-i-m-harmless-today-tate/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-grimace-i-m-harmless-today-tate/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/diana-palmer-4730_education_matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-gri_2157146.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/diana-palmer-4730_education_matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-gri_2157146.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/diana-palmer-4730_education_matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-gri_2157146.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Matt’s housekeeper let him in with a grimace. “I’m harmless today,” Tate assured the woman as she led the…” — Diana Palmer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Diana Palmer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Matt’s housekeeper let him in with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-grimace-i-m-harmless-today-tate/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/matt-s-housekeeper-let-him-in-with-a-grimace-i-m-harmless-today-tate/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```