with a reassuring nod. “Oliver had a bit of a tumble on the playground at school,” she began gently, her voice soft and soothing, like the balm she had just applied to his cheek. “He was playing tag during recess and tripped over one of the smaller slides.”
Richard inhaled sharply, a mix of relief and lingering worry. He crouched down next to his son, meeting his eyes with a gaze that was both stern and tender. “Why didn’t the school call me?”
