Written for the prompt 'bruise' from the weekly drabble prompt from thebarsondaily.
"Olivia, I don't know if I feel comfortable sending him there anymore."
Olivia turns from the stove to see her husband leaning against the counter. Still in his work clothes, Rafael is chewing on his lip, clearly stressed.
"I don't like what happened anymore than you do, but this was an isolated incident. Noah's been going there for three years and we've never dealt with anything like this before."
Rafael stares across the living room at Noah. The four year old is totally engrossed in his iPad. A purple bruise mars his chubby cheek.
His voice is low and full of pain. "I made a promise when I proposed to you. I vowed to keep him safe, that I would always do what was best for him. I know what it's like to be bullied and afraid and I won't allow him to go through that, Liv. I can't."
Barba rarely speaks of it but Olivia knows the extent of the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. Her heart aches for him.
"We're meeting with the daycare director first thing in the morning. We will get to the bottom of it and if we're uncomfortable we can look into other daycare options."
He nods then takes a deep breath and drops his head. "Thank you," he whispers. He turns and embraces Olivia tightly.
"Daddy guess what?" Noah interrupts the emotional moment between his parents, tugging on Barba's pant leg.
"What, buddy?"
"You're the best daddy in the whole wide world!" Noah exclaims, then dissolves into giggles.
Picking up his son Barba replies in traditional form, "Guess what Noah; you're the best Noah in the whole wide world!"
They laugh together and Olivia's heart glows. She couldn't have picked a better father for her son if she tried.