Not Normal
It wasn’t long before the worried dad started to see what his wife was talking about. She didn’t even need to show him proof. In fact, she had not told him about the camera at all.
The morning after he had come home late from work he had tried to play with the baby again, but Joshua just became irritable and refused to look at him.
Difficult Beginnings
Heather and John had been married for five years and lived in Massachusetts. They were overjoyed to welcome their first child into the world. They felt it was a blessing.
The birth had been a little difficult, with Heather being an older mom at 40 years old. She had struggled to conceive and was overjoyed that her baby Joshua came out healthy and happy.
The First Signs
The first few months with Joshua were great, and he played like any baby would. It was around 18 months old when Heather first noticed something about her baby.
He started to lose interest in her. He refused to look at her. He would eat and play all without looking up at his mother once. He seemed to be focusing elsewhere.
Mentally Challenged
Heather started to notice that little Joshua didn't seem to want to acknowledge her. He would make eye contact for a few seconds and then look away.
He did it a few times before. Heather would call his name, but it was as though he couldn’t hear her. She became worried that something might be wrong with him mentally.
Touching Base
The concerned wife tried to talk to her husband about it but he wouldn’t listen. “Well, you are with him the whole day, you should know what you’re doing with him. He is still a baby, he has to grow up,” he said as he sat down at the dinner table.
Heather looked confused. What did her husband mean by that? Was he accusing her? How could she make her husband listen to her?
Proof Is In The Details
Heather decided to install a hidden camera in the living room. She wanted proof that she was a good mother and that she was always taking care of Joshua in the best way.
Perhaps then her husband would see how Joshua’s behavior had changed and pay attention to his child. “How dare he blame her for no reason,” she thought as she hid the camera from sight.
I Told You So
It wasn’t long before John had started to see what Heather was talking about. She didn’t even need to show him proof. In fact, Heather had not told him about the camera at all.
Joshua noticed the exact same thing with his baby when he came home late from work one night. He was worried. The next morning, when he tried to play with Joshua, the baby became irritable again and didn't want to look at him.
Professional Services
Heather and Joshua decided to take the baby to the pediatrician. The doctor was a middle-aged woman with long dark hair and a captivating smile. Her name was Dr. Barbara Stronghorn. She was an attractive woman who was recently widowed.
The worried parents watched in anticipation as the doctor conducted the tests on their son. She seemed concerned. But she didn’t say anything while examining Joshua. She was focused on her work and did all the tests with efficiency.
Doctors’ Diagnosis
The doctor told them that he seemed physically normal but that there is a possibility of a slight mental issue. “We cannot pinpoint exactly what the problem with his brain is until we get the test results back,” she said and took her glasses off.
Heather had a million questions for the doctor. She tried to be nice with the concerned mother but she also had other patients to attend too, and had to leave. Heather was left standing in the rooms with a heavy heart from the doctor’s diagnosis.
Bad News For Some
The worried parents patiently waited for the test results. After a few days they received news from the hospital and were asked to come in.
After many tests, Doctor Barbara told them that Joshua may have autism. Heather was devastated, and she felt guilty that she hadn't noticed something was wrong earlier. The doctor apologized to the couple and hugged them both. “I am here if you need anything” she said to John as she held his hand.
The Blame Game
John was in his own world, he looked shocked and wondered how this happened to his son. He questioned himself. He lived a healthy lifestyle and ate food well. How could this happen?
He was angry inside and he blamed Heather for being older. “Look at her crying, so pathetic. Why did she want to have a baby in the first place?” he thought.
A Worse Situation
John tried to be a good father, but as the weeks passed, Heather noticed that he was becoming distant. She felt as though he had lost interest in her after the baby, and she became self-conscious about her appearance.
Heather tried to focus on her child and hoped that John would pay more attention to her. But her husband was lost in his own thoughts.
Bad Thoughts
Joshua, on the other hand, started to believe that Heather was talking badly about him to the baby. He felt that Heather had become obsessed with their child, and he couldn't understand why she was so worried about Joshua's development.
Joshua started to pull away from Heather, and he began to spend more time at work. He didn’t want to be at home anymore.
Pulling Away
John was finding it difficult to be supportive towards Heather, but he had his own demons to battle. He was feeling neglected by Heather, who was constantly focused on the baby.
He missed the days when it was just the two of them, and he could do whatever he wanted without any responsibilities. He found himself thinking about Dr. Stronghorn more and more, and he knew it was wrong.
Another Choice
Desperate for answers himself, Joshua started taking John for his checkups with the pediatrician. He didn’t expect to get treated the way he was by Dr. Stronghorn.
She started flirting with John, telling him that his frumpy wife didn't deserve him. He couldn’t believe his ears. How could this doctor be so forward with him?
Open Invitation
John was hoping to get some answers about the baby's condition, but what he got was something else entirely. She removed her coat revealing a short dress with a plunging neckline.
Dr. Stronghorn was all over him, giggling shamelessly and making him feel wanted. John was confused, but he couldn't deny that he enjoyed the attention.
I Want Both
John loved his family, but he enjoyed the thrill of Dr. Stronghorn's attention. He was confused and didn't know what to do.
He tried to talk to Heather about their problems, but she was too consumed with worrying about their child's condition. He wanted to see where this would go but he didn’t want to get caught.
A Dishonest Father
As time passed, John started going to see Dr. Stronghorn more and more often. He was addicted to the thrill of being wanted and desired by someone else. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't stop himself.
Dr. Stronghorn kept telling him that Heather didn't deserve him and that he should get a divorce. John was torn, but he couldn't deny that he was starting to believe her.
Catching On
Meanwhile, Heather was starting to notice that something was off with John. He was distant and preoccupied all the time. She tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't open up.
She even started to suspect that he was having an affair, but she couldn't bring herself to confront him about it. What could she do to save her marriage?
The D Word
One day, Dr. Stronghorn said that she wanted to have a serious relationship with John and asked him to get a divorce. John was shocked and didn't know how to respond.
He knew that he loved Heather and their child, but he couldn't resist the temptation of Dr. Stronghorn's attention. What was he going to do?
All Out In The Open
Heather noticed that John was becoming more distant, and she confronted him about it. John denied seeing anybody but he looked guilty. Heather knew that he was hiding something and had proof.
Heather showed him the video recordings of him secretly on the phone with someone. John finally admitted that he had been seeing Dr. Stronghorn and that she had asked him to get a divorce. Heather was beside herself in tears but John didn’t care and he stormed out.
In Your Face
Heather went to look for John to confront him about his wrong doing. She couldn’t find him anywhere and thought of one place she hadn’t checked, Dr. Stronghorn's office.
When she arrived, she saw something that made her blood boil. John and Dr. Stronghorn were kissing passionately, right in front of her eyes. Heather was devastated. She felt like her whole world had come crashing down. She was too embarrassed to confront him in front of the lusty doctor and ran away.
A Broken Home
She confronted John about it later that night, and he didn't even try to deny it. He told her that he was in love with Dr. Stronghorn and that he wanted a divorce.
Heather was heartbroken. She couldn't believe that the man she had loved for so long had betrayed her like this. How could she ever show her face in public again?
No Answers
Heather was devastated, and she felt as though her world had fallen apart. She couldn't understand why John would want to leave their family, especially when they had a child with special needs.
The poor woman was having a hard time dealing with it. She blamed herself for everything that had happened, thinking that she was too old to have a baby and that it was all her fault.
Keeping Strong
Despite her pain, Heather tried to stay strong for her child. She became more involved in Joshua's therapy and worked hard to ensure that he had everything he needed. His diet had to change and she had various exercises to do with him.
She hadn’t heard from John in a while and she was getting worried. He left her without another word. She hated what he did to her and wanted some closure.
Heads Up
Heather decided to get the ball rolling by filing for divorce. John moved in with Dr. Stronghorn in a rush. They tried to make a life together, but it wasn't long before John realized that he had made a terrible mistake.
Dr. Stronghorn was nothing like he had imagined her to be. She was possessive and jealous, and she didn't care about him as much as she cared about herself.
A Second Thought
John realized that he had made a mistake and that he still loved his family. He broke things off with Dr. Stronghorn and begged Heather for forgiveness.
Heather knew that this was going to happen eventually. But she didn’t want to make it easy for John. He had really embarrassed her and she felt lost for a long time.
Take Me Back
John tried to go back to Heather, but it was too late. She had moved on, and she didn't want anything to do with him anymore. He was left alone, regretting his decisions and wishing he could turn back time.
Heather, on the other hand, had found a new love and a new purpose in life. She was happy, and she didn't look back.
All Is Fair In Love
John didn’t give up, he tried to win Heather back. He would call her constantly and show up at their house. Her new boyfriend actually got irritated with her and broke up with her. Heather was hurt, but she still loved John, and she agreed to work things out with him again.
Together, Heather and John focused on their family and their child's needs. They worked hard to rebuild their relationship, and they both became more involved in Joshua's therapy. Over time, Joshua started to make progress, and he became more engaged with his parents.
The Way It Should Be
Despite the challenges they faced, Heather and John's love for each other and their child kept them strong. They knew that their family was worth fighting for, and they never gave up on each other.
In the end, their love and commitment to each other helped them overcome their struggles, and they emerged stronger than ever before. And yes, they found a new pediatrician too, one who could do their job and without so many personal issues.