--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Or I can stay with Colby when he comes…" description: "\"“Or I can stay with Colby when he comes back,” she added deliberately. She even smiled. “He’ll take care of me.” His black eyes narrowed. “He can barel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/diana-palmer-4730_black-eyes_or-i-can-stay-with-colby-when-he-comes-b_2726431.jpg" --- # Or I can stay with Colby when he comes back,” she added… ![“Or I can stay with Colby when he comes back,” she added deliberately. She even smiled. “He’ll take care of me.” His black eyes narrowed. “He can barely take care of himself,” he said flatly. “He’s a lost soul. He can’t escape the past or face the future without Maureen. He isn’t ready for a…” quote by Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/diana-palmer-4730_black-eyes_or-i-can-stay-with-colby-when-he-comes-b_2726431.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/diana-palmer-4730_black-eyes_or-i-can-stay-with-colby-when-he-comes-b_2726431.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/diana-palmer-4730_black-eyes_or-i-can-stay-with-colby-when-he-comes-b_2726431.jpg) > ““Or I can stay with Colby when he comes back,” she added deliberately. She even smiled. “He’ll take care of me.” His black eyes narrowed. “He can barely take care of himself,” he said flatly. “He’s a lost soul. He can’t escape the past or face the future without Maureen. He isn’t ready for a relationship with anyone else, even if he thinks he is” She didn’t rise to the bait. “I can count on Colby. He’ll help me if I need it.” He looked frustrated. “But you won’t let me help you.” “Colby isn’t involved with anyone who’d be jealous of the time he spent looking out for me. That’s the difference.” He let out an angry breath and his eyes began to glitter. “You have to beat the subject to death, I guess.” She managed to look indifferent. “You have your own life to live, Tate. I’m not part of it anymore. You’ve made that quite clear.” His teeth clenched. “Is it really that easy for you to throw the past away?” he asked. “That’s what you want,” she reminded him. There was a perverse pleasure in watching his eyes narrow. “You said you’d never forget or forgive me,” she added evenly. “I took you at your word. I’ll always have fond memories of you and Leta. But I’m a grown woman. I have a career, a future. I’ve dragged you down financially for years, without knowing it. Now that I do…” “For God’s sake!” he burst out, rising to pace with his hands clenched in his pockets. “I could have sent you to Harvard if you’d wanted to go there, and never felt the cost! “You’re missing the point,” she said, feeling nausea rise in her throat and praying it wouldn’t overflow. “I could have worked my way through school, paid for my own apartment and expenses. I wouldn’t have minded. But you made me beholden to you in a way I can never repay.” He stopped pacing and glared at her. “Have I asked for repayment?” She smiled in spite of herself. “You look just like Matt when you glower that way.” The glare got worse. She held up a hand. “I know. You don’t want to talk about that. Sorry.” “Everyone else wants to talk about it,” he said irritably. “I’ve done nothing but dodge reporters ever since the story broke. What a hell of a way to do it, on national television!”” [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 woman asserts independence, rejecting emotional manipulation and past debts, emphasizing personal growth and self‑reliance. **In simple terms:** She refuses to be tied to his past and demands her own future. Key Takeaway Prioritize self‑determination over toxic ties. Themes independence relationships self‑worth power dynamics Mood defiant resolute reflective Type personal relationship growth When to use this quote - career decisions - financial independence - relationship break‑ups - self‑esteem building Key Concepts emotional manipulation boundaries personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries protect your autonomy? - How do you balance compassion with self‑preservation? A Different Perspective She may underestimate the emotional impact of severing deep ties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-eyes/) [Colby Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colby-comes-2922157/) [Count Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/count-colby-2922160/) [Fond memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fond-memories/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Grown Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown-woman/) [Help Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-colby-2922156/) [Involved Jealous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved-jealous-2922159/) [Stay Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-colby-2922158/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I know I said this before, but it bears repeating. 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Laila bore down mentally.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/only-two-weeks-since-he-had-left-and-it-was-already-happening-time/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“He's a woman. He's a grown woman He's a old woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/he-s-a-woman-he-s-a-grown-woman-he-s-a-old-woman/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“Wine is the refined jewel that only a grown woman will prefer to the sparkling trinkets adored by little girls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/wine-is-the-refined-jewel-that-only-a-grown-woman-will-prefer-to-the/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [A breath of steam trickles out, filled with the sobs of a grown woman breaking into girl-sized pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/a-breath-of-steam-trickles-out-filled-with-the-sobs-of-a-grown-woman/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [ Even when I was a grown woman, he \[Father\] would leave me on the edge of hysteria in all our arguments: though I married… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/even-when-i-was-a-grown-woman-he-father-would-leave-me-on-the-edge-of/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [I'm a grown woman, so I'm used to being straight forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porsha-williams/i-m-a-grown-woman-so-i-m-used-to-being-straight-forward/) [Porsha Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porsha-williams/) > [When I originally came from 'Cheetah Girls,' I was making music that was real to me but not believable. I think there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-bailon/when-i-originally-came-from-cheetah-girls-i-was-making-music-that-was/) [Adrienne Bailon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-bailon/) > [I'm a grown woman and sometimes, I might be a little fat, you know? Am I alone there? Not really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-m-a-grown-woman-and-sometimes-i-might-be-a-little-fat-you-know-am-i/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [“She was no lithe virgin. Hers was the gentle voluptuousness of a grown woman, with a hint of fullness of breast and hip that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-jance/she-was-no-lithe-virgin-hers-was-the-gentle-voluptuousness-of-a-grown/) [J.A. Jance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-jance/) ## 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. 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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 Black eyes quotes > [A blue eye is a true eye; Mysterious is a dark one, Which flashes like a spark sun! 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I whirled around to find the real Patch standing in the fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-could-get-you-to-smile-like-that-and-without-sales-tax-i-whirled/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) [Browse all 213 Black eyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-eyes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Or I can stay with Colby when he comes back,” she added deliberately. She even smiled. “He’ll take care of me.” His black eyes narrowed. “He can barely take care of himself,” he said flatly. “He’s a lost soul. He can’t escape the past or face the future without Maureen. He isn’t ready for a relationship with anyone else, even if he thinks he is” She didn’t rise to the bait. “I can count on Colby. He’ll help me if I need it.” He looked frustrated. “But you won’t let me help you.” “Colby isn’t involved with anyone who’d be jealous of the time he spent looking out for me. That’s the difference.” He let out an angry breath and his eyes began to glitter. “You have to beat the subject to death, I guess.” She managed to look indifferent. “You have your own life to live, Tate. I’m not part of it anymore. You’ve made that quite clear.” His teeth clenched. “Is it really that easy for you to throw the past away?” he asked. “That’s what you want,” she reminded him. There was a perverse pleasure in watching his eyes narrow. “You said you’d never forget or forgive me,” she added evenly. “I took you at your word. I’ll always have fond memories of you and Leta. But I’m a grown woman. I have a career, a future. I’ve dragged you down financially for years, without knowing it. Now that I do…” “For God’s sake!” he burst out, rising to pace with his hands clenched in his pockets. “I could have sent you to Harvard if you’d wanted to go there, and never felt the cost! “You’re missing the point,” she said, feeling nausea rise in her throat and praying it wouldn’t overflow. “I could have worked my way through school, paid for my own apartment and expenses. I wouldn’t have minded. But you made me beholden to you in a way I can never repay.” He stopped pacing and glared at her. “Have I asked for repayment?” She smiled in spite of herself. “You look just like Matt when you glower that way.” The glare got worse. She held up a hand. “I know. You don’t want to talk about that. Sorry.” “Everyone else wants to talk about it,” he said irritably. “I’ve done nothing but dodge reporters ever since the story broke. What a hell of a way to do it, on national television!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Palmer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/or-i-can-stay-with-colby-when-he-comes-back-she-added-deliberately/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Black eyes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/or-i-can-stay-with-colby-when-he-comes-back-she-added-deliberately/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/diana-palmer-4730_black-eyes_or-i-can-stay-with-colby-when-he-comes-b_2726431.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/diana-palmer-4730_black-eyes_or-i-can-stay-with-colby-when-he-comes-b_2726431.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/diana-palmer-4730_black-eyes_or-i-can-stay-with-colby-when-he-comes-b_2726431.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Or I can stay with Colby when he comes back,” she added deliberately. 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