Tatiana is a determined single woman who has spent four years focused on her dream of motherhood, driven by a unsettling discovery about her fertility. Opting for artificial insemination to bypass traditional relationships, she finally embraces her...
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Liked by trinity_fatu, tanyaarenas, cassie, and 76,044 others tatianaarenas Ocean's Mom. View all 1,335 comments
The hospital had become a second home over the last couple of days. After the whirlwind of delivering Ocean in that parking lot, I felt like I'd been through a rite of passage. My baby girl had already changed my world, and now, as we were finally discharged, I thought the hard part was behind us. The doctor handed me the paperwork, and as I glanced down, my heart sank.
"Tatiana, is everything okay?" my mother, Darya, asked, noticing the sudden shift in my expression.
I shook my head, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. "No, it's not." I stared at the birth certificate in disbelief. "Joe is listed as the father."
"What?" Darya exclaimed, her eyes widening. "How is that possible?"
"Apparently, they assumed that because he was in the room and he was the one who delivered the baby, he was the father," I explained, still in shock. It felt absurd. Joe had been a kind stranger, but a father? That title belonged to no one but me.
Darya threw her hands up. "See? That's what happens when you let anyone in the medical field make assumptions! It's ridiculous!"
My father, Tristan, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "What are you going to do about it, Tatiana?"
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "I have to track Joe down and get him off Ocean's birth certificate." The words sounded resolute, but inside, I felt the familiar flicker of anxiety.
"Do you know how to find him?" Tristan asked, concern etched on his face.
"Yeah, I can direct message him on Instagram. He's a celebrity, he's accessible," I replied, trying to sound confident.
"Sweetie, just because he's a celebrity doesn't mean he runs his own Instagram page," Darya interjected. "He probably has a team for that. He's not as accessible as you think."
I sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "I'll figure it out," I insisted. But deep down, I felt the first pangs of doubt creeping in. How on earth was I supposed to contact someone like Joe, especially after such an unusual encounter?
The car ride home felt surreal. Ocean was nestled in her car seat, her soft breathing a soothing rhythm amidst the chaos swirling in my mind. I couldn't help but glance at her, feeling that fierce protectiveness wash over me. I wanted her name to reflect our bond, not some fleeting moment with a stranger.
Once home, Darya fussed over the baby while Tristan settled into the couch with a sigh. I felt caught between two worlds: the joy of motherhood and the frustration of bureaucracy. The living room was filled with the warmth of home, yet my heart was heavy.
