"Do you realize I'm going to have to break in? I just don't want you to get hurt." "I'm not some little woman that needs to be taken care of. I've done just fine without you for my whole life, Jude! I'm not fragile." "Yes, you are!" She stopped on the sidewalk and looked at me. I tried to tone it down. "You are fragile and you are a woman who needs to be taken care of." She started to protest, but I moved and took her face in my hands. "You deserve to be taken care of. You've done a great done job so far, but, sweetheart, there's nothing wrong with letting somebody take over for a while. Let me take care of you. Let me protect you. I know you've never had someone to look after you before, but now you do." "Jude," she swallowed, "I'm coming with you." I gritted my teeth. "You can't do this by yourself. I need to see this for myself as much as you do." "I want you safe." "They ruined my life, too." Dang…she had to throw that last jab.
