The following is an excerpt from “My Dream of Fatherhood: An Unconventional Journey” by Rami Aizic and published by Franklin Publishers.

While Los Angeles was always known for its forward-thinking and liberal way of life, when it came to children, that was not the case. An openly gay dad strutting around broadcasting to those around him that he is the biological single father of a child was such an anomaly that neighbors, teachers, clergy, and even family members could, and did, look askance and suspiciously at that family unit.

This was not a whim for me. Not some capricious, flighty craving that would pass once I had the child for a couple of weeks or months.

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I wanted a family. I wanted the trappings of carpooling and making breakfast, lunch, and dinner, leaving funny notes in my kid’s lunch bag. I wanted to juggle my work and the extracurricular activities of my son or daughter, figuring out how to make sure I was there to see my kid run up and down the basketball court, spike the volleyball over the net, or pirouette on the floor while the mirrors that surrounded the dance room showed them from every angle.

I wanted to have neighbors with whom I could leave my son to play with theirs and to be able to host playdates where my daughter could bring home a friend for a sleepover. I wanted to feel beyond tired at the end of the day, ensuring we were fed, dishes were washed, homework completed, bath time enjoyed, teeth brushed, books read, and we both fell into our respective beds. I wanted my offspring to complain it was too early for bed while I thought and felt exhausted, longing for bed. When friends would tell me this was more of a pipedream than a potential reality, I felt both angry and deflated.

One Saturday night, Mason and I were invited to a party at a friend’s house. Amy worked in the entertainment industry, behind the scenes, and had not only many friends, but eclectic and interesting ones. She and her girlfriend lived in a multilevel townhouse that they rented, decorated magnificently with mid-century modern furniture and art…

On our way there, Mason and I discussed whether this might be a gathering where there might be a woman, gay or straight, or a female couple, who might entertain the idea of me and her partnering in creating a child…We admitted we had nothing to lose as long as we did not embarrass ourselves or our host. Yet, it was going to be a full-on aggressive pursuit of finding a womb.

Once we finally found a place to park, which was no easy task, we speculated that with so many invitees there that night, maybe one of them really might be the one. We were on a mission. We saw a few women outside, chatting amongst themselves.

“Good omen,” Mason said… We nodded hello to them and maneuvered through the maze they had created to get to and through the front door…. I looked around but couldn’t spot Amy.

At one point, Mason wandered off somewhere… In front of the drinks table stood a woman I didn’t know. I introduced myself to her. She was of average height, maybe five feet four or five, approximately my age, thirty or so, with brown curly hair that just hit her shoulders, green eyes, and a pretty smile. She and Amy knew each other from a show they had both worked on, and I asked her how she liked being in her industry. The more she disclosed, the more I realized she was well-educated, was interesting, had a wicked sense of humor, and had traveled quite a bit, mostly for her work.

She was currently single, although I didn’t know, or ask, if she had been partnered with a man or a woman because it didn’t matter. It was evident to me that she was financially comfortable, given how she described her lifestyle, and that she was close with her family…

Mason found his way back to me, at which time I introduced him to my new friend. I put my right arm through Mason’s left one, showing her that we were a happy couple, and stated unequivocally, “I hope to get my license, set up an office, and start a family.” I was trying to find somewhere between subtle and direct.

She looked at me curiously, asking what I meant, which allowed me to go into my spiel. As I was winding my way through my story, she interrupted me by saying that she’d had a child for a couple in the past, “which was one of the most gratifying experiences” she had ever had. My ears perked up, and I felt a surge of adrenaline go through me.

“I believe that gay people deserve the same rights as straight people when it comes to having children.” She was emphatic and passionate about this.

“This is so refreshing to hear since our society seems to be way behind the curve on this one, in my opinion,” I responded.

“I know it’s not the norm, but if I can help those who can’t do this for themselves, then that’s what I want to do.”

I didn’t have to sell the rest of my story; she took the reins from me and was selling hers. This was, in its truest sense, unbelievable. Is this how it would happen? I would be at a party, and in some random, arbitrary way, I would meet a woman. She and I would trade tales, and then, in the not-too-distant future, I would be home with a baby that she had carried for me? The more we talked, the more excited I became. Piece by piece, the puzzle of my elusive future was being filled in.

Find out how Rami’s story ends in My Dream of Fatherhood: An Unconventional Journey.

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