Third Time's The Charm

Chapter 21

The appointment with the child psychiatrist had gone fairly well. The doctor had agreed that she did see some behaviors that could be explained by an ASD diagnosis, but if that did end up being the case, that it would be very mild. She explained how ASD was a spectrum disorder as indicated by the name, that manifested differently in every child. Ezra would be in what they called the high end of the spectrum and his day to day life would be affected very minimally. The doctor suggested Ezra be monitored developmentally for a couple more months before making an official diagnosis.

She also recommended us to a behavioral and occupational therapy program that the state would surely pay for since Ezra was still part of the foster system. Maya had given them a call and set up our first appointment, which was set to be today. Unfortunately for us, she wouldn't be able to be there for his first appointment, as she was working a twenty four hour shift. She promised to be there for the appointments to follow as she wanted to be involved in Ezra's growth as much as she could. I was getting the house ready, cleaning up the living room as well as Ezra's room, trying my best to make the house as presentable as possible. Something that had proven to be a little more difficult now that a little boy was living with us. Somehow, everytime I picked something up, another thing, whether that be a toy or an article of clothing, would show up on the other side of the room. It was a never ending cycle. Luckily for me Ezra had gone down for a nap, giving me just enough time before his therapists showed up.

"Ciao piccolino, time to wake up," I whispered, gently scratching his scalp.

"Nooo," he whined as he pressed his head further into the pillow.

"Come on bambino, we have your appointment today, remember," I added, gently pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"Sleepy," he whispered, rubbing his eyes.

"I know, but this will be over before you know it and then we can snuggle and watch all of the movies you want," I bribed.

"Snuggle in your room, and watch spider-man?" he bargained.

"Of course tesoro," I chuckled, pulling him out of bed and placing him on my hip. He laid his head on my shoulder as he sleepily played with the ends of my hair, his body extra warm and cheeks flushed from having been asleep. We made our way downstairs, the two of us snuggling on the couch as we waited for the therapists to show up.

"Carina?" he said, a little more awake.

"What is it?" I moved to brush the hair that had been pressed against his forehead out of his face.

"You leave me?" he asked, a nervous tone lacing his voice.

"No bambino, of course not. Why do you say that?" I responded.

"Cause sometimes when they help me at school I go by myself," he sighed, relaxing into my arms. Ezra had been getting help on and off from an occupational therapist at school. Miss Williams had brought some of Ezra's struggles to our attention and thought he would benefit from the extra help. The three of us had always attributed those difficulties to his original diagnosis, which had not been necessarily dismissed by his doctors, but that combined with some of the behavioral patterns we had all begun to observe were now starting to make more sense.

"I don't like it when you leave," he added.

"Non preoccuparti (don't worry) bambino, I will always be here" I responded. He nodded in acceptance as he continued to play with my hands and fingers. He jumped as the doorbell rang, obviously nervous for what was to come. I moved Ezra off of my lap, standing up to make my way toward the door. He grabbed my wrist tightly, not wanting me to leave him alone.

"I have to get the door. I will be right back," I reassured. He shook his head, eyes wide as they darted back and forth between me and the front door. He held on as tight as he could, using both of his hands in an effort to keep me from leaving.