Before I knew it March 1st arrived and it was the opening night of The Hotel 30 – Chicago. I don't know how we managed to do it but in twelve days we removed all traces of the Beacon Hotel and completed construction on Molly's. That afternoon I was in Suite 1003 having my hair and makeup done. I wasn't too talkative so the makeup artist and Nicole, my hair stylist, left me to my thoughts. Thoughts that were mostly unhappy. I had been unhappy for the past two and a half weeks. Since the last night I saw Jay. He walked out of my apartment that night and didn't return until the next day when I was at work. I got home from work that Tuesday night and noticed all of his personal belongings were gone. Not only that but he left the key I had given him on the kitchen counter. None of my text messages or phone calls had been returned. I knew the majority of the Intelligence Unit would be attending tonight's event and although it was very doubtful I hoped that Jay would attend as well. Once my makeup was done and my hair was styled in soft waves it was time to get dressed. My gown was a floor length black backless dress with silver threading thru it and a high slit up the right leg. I wore the diamond and black onyx choker and earring set Dad had given me for my 25th birthday. Taking a deep breath I walked down to the hotel's lobby where my team waited for me. "I want to thank you all for your hard work. What we have accomplished in the past twelve days is nothing short of unbelievable. I couldn't imagine being on this crazy and exciting journey with any other team. For anyone who asks about the hotel name you can let them know that I turned thirty in December and took ownership of the hotel in January. Let them know that the thirty is representative of the next thirty years and all we are going to accomplish. I have no doubt that we're going to run circles around the competition. Now, let's go let the crowd in and have a good time!" I said heading towards the front doors. Where the New Year's Eve Gala had been a formal sit down event, this one was still black tie but we would be allowing guests to wander through the hotel at their leisure. Each area of the hotel that was open for the party would offer different selections for food, drinks and live music. The door that connected the hotel to Molly's was open and I was so excited for everyone to see it.
With Laura by my side, we went outside and cut the big red ribbon and greeted guests as they entered the hotel. I made my way thru the hotel and on my third pass through Molly's I saw the Intelligence Unit along with my friends from 51 and Chicago Med. "This place is amazing! You've done such a great job." Kelly said, coming up to me and giving me a hug. "Thank you." I said, smiling as my gaze searched the bar for Jay. "He's not here. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened but I do know that he went out of town for a few days. I'm not sure where he went but I do know that he told Kim he needed to get away." Kelly said. "Oh. Thanks for telling me. Go get yourself a drink and I'll catch up with you later." I replied. "Great job kid. This place looks really good. And the hotel looks phenomenal. Quite a feat to do it all in twelve days. How are you feeling? You're eating and getting some rest, right?" Hank asked coming up behind me. I quickly glanced around, hoping no one overheard what he said. "Don't worry, no one heard me. People are going to start noticing though. You're at almost ten weeks. From what I remember when Camille was pregnant she started showing at twelve weeks. She was pregnant with twins, but one of them didn't make it. You only have two more weeks before people are going to figure it out. Not only that but you don't have your typical glass of wine or Jameson in your hand. That's going to be a dead give-a-way." he told me. "Thanks. So, I was hoping in regards to that other situation we could chat tomorrow at some point. Maybe over a burger and fries in my office for dinner at 6:30pm?" I said, changing the subject. After saying he would see me then, I made my way thru the rest of the Intelligence Unit. I knew that they knew Jay and I were no longer together. It was in their eyes and in their greetings. Obviously Kim, being one of my closest friends knew that Jay had left but I never told her the details of why. I also hadn't told her, Gabby, Stella or Sylvie that I was pregnant. I owed it to Jay, if I could find him, to tell him first.
The night flew by and the next evening Hank and I had dinner. I told him that Uncle Paddy had been in contact and was now starting the transition of Chicago's business from Finn O'Doyle over to me. I told him Joseph DiStefano was coming back to Chicago to help with the transition. Apparently, there was a deal between Paddy and the DiStefano family. We would be splitting Chicago evenly. I also told him about my "bodyguard" O'Malley and the fact that I had to buy a house based on Uncle Paddy's orders. I was nervous about what was to come. I was in over my head and other than Hank I had no one in my corner. I was going to betray my Uncle Paddy and I knew there was going to be hell to pay. There was no other option tho. I needed to do it to get my life back. "Hank, we need to talk about Jay. I need a few minutes of his time to tell him about the babies. I noticed my stomach looked a little curved this morning. I can only say I'm bloated for so long. When is he coming back to town?" I said. He told me Jay had put in for a week's vacation and wouldn't be back until the following Monday. He would let me know when he was back and I could talk to him at the District.
I spent the next week working out some minor kinks at the hotel and finalizing a bid to purchase a hotel in Myrtle Beach. I went house hunting over the weekend and found a 7,000 square foot home in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago. It has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It was beautiful and on Uncle Paddy's list so that should make him happy. I put an offer on the house and was told that I would most likely hear if my offer was accepted within the week. O'Malley started his role as my bodyguard and was everywhere. I could barely go to the Ladies Room without him following me. That was going to cause problems. On Sunday night I received a text from Hank. Jay was back and would be at work the next morning. I didn't want to have this conversation with him at the District so at 10:00pm I decided to take a drive to Jay's apartment. I didn't bother knocking on the door. Instead I slipped the envelope with the Ultrasound photos and a note under his door. I stood there waiting for him to open the door. I saw his truck parked out front so he must be home. After standing there for twenty minutes I felt like an idiot so I turned and headed back outside to my car. O'Malley followed me home. "Boss, are you going to be in for the night? You know Paddy isn't going to like hearing that you went to the Detective's place tonight." he said. "Jesus, O'Malley. Paddy doesn't need to know every little thing about my life. And you work for me, so I'm telling you right now, you're going to want to think about what you do and do not tell my Uncle. You can go home. I'm not going anywhere else. I'm actually heading to bed. I'll see you in the morning." I told him.
I woke up the next morning to find another foot of snow had covered the city. I put on a fitted pair of black pants which seemed to be a little snug, a deep purple silk v-neck shirt and a black suit jacket. I slipped into my black suede wedge booties and headed out to the living room. I stopped suddenly when I noticed Jay sitting on my couch. "Hi. How are you? How did you get in?" I asked. He said he borrowed Hank's key. He had gone to Hank's house the night before after I slipped the envelopes under his door. "Jay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry you feel so betrayed and hurt. That was never my intent." I said but he cut me off. "Christine, I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to talk about the fact that you're pregnant with my children. I told you that when I thought Mariana was pregnant there would have been no way I would let a child of mine be raised around the Cartel. This situation is going to be even worse knowing what I do about you. You have a choice to make. You tell Voight you can't do this and you find a way to convince your Uncle that you are not taking over the family business. I'll let you keep custody of the kids but if you don't do it, I'll have you arrested and you'll never see them after they're born." "Jay, you can't be serious. These are our children. Children that I hoped we would raise together. You know this shit with my family business isn't going to last forever. It's just a matter of getting Hank whatever info he needs and then I'm out. Paddy will be in jail and the Irish Mob will no longer exist. I'll be able to go back to being a hotel owner and a good Mother to our children. Please, Jay, think about what you're saying. Don't do this. Please don't do this." I pleaded with him. "You have till Friday to figure out what you're going to do. I'll see you then." he said as he walked out of my apartment. "No! You don't get to do that. We're going to have this out right here and now. You don't get to issue ultimatums and then just leave. Yes, I know I have a choice to make but I've made that choice and you need to be somewhat flexible in your demands. You haven't even asked me when I'm due or how I'm feeling. You haven't asked one single thing about my pregnancy or the twins so let me tell you something. You are fucking insane if you think that I would give up custody to a person who doesn't even care enough to ask about his children. Don't you dare threaten me Jay. Not when every choice I have made was because I love you. It was to protect you and keep you safe. Don't you dare make me out to be the bad guy in all of this. There's no point in coming to see me on Friday because my choice and my plans aren't going to change. Now, until you can act rationally and actually talk WITH me and not AT me, you can leave." I said. I turned and walked back into my bedroom, closing the door behind me. I sat down on the bed and let the tears flow.
It has now been another month since I last saw Jay. He hasn't contacted me since that Monday morning. I had made the pregnancy announcement after I saw Jay last. Our friends were very supportive and I was thankful I had them in my life, especially since I had moved into my new house in the Gold Coast neighborhood the week before. I was trying to get settled and used to living in such a large home. Spring was starting to arrive in Chicago and I was getting ready to head to Myrtle Beach the following weekend. I would be meeting my Dad down there to show him the house and to sign the paperwork for the hotel I had purchased in Myrtle Beach. I was planning on sticking with my original plan of opening the hotel on Memorial Day weekend. It would be known as The Hotel 30 – Myrtle Beach and the bar would be an indoor / outdoor bar known as Molly's On The Beach. I was now fifteen weeks pregnant and at today's doctor's appointment I would find out if I was having boys, girls or one of each. I left work at 2:00pm and headed to my doctor's office at Chicago Med. Hank was there to meet me. As usual he ignored O'Malley and gave me a hug. "Does he know where you are?" I asked him. "Yeah, I told him. I also told him to get his head out of his ass and show up. This is getting old. I need to be honest with you. The team knows about our arrangement and they all support you. They've chosen sides and they're on your side. Dawson told him to get his shit together and even if he chooses not to get back together with you he needs to step up and be a Father. Come on, let's go see what my pseudo grandchildren are up to." Hank said. My OB/GYN was quiet and thoughtful as she did the Ultrasound. "What is it? What's wrong?" I asked. "They don't seem to be growing as much as I had hoped they would. They are a little on the smaller size. Your blood pressure is a little high as well. That's most likely due to stress. I'm not overly concerned but I would like to see you take it easy. I don't want to have to put you on bedrest for the remainder of your pregnancy. Now, if you're ready to know what you're having I can tell you." she said. I was told I was having one of each, a boy and a girl. Holy crap! I looked at Hank with a smile on my face. "You can tell him when you go back to the District. I'm over dealing with him." I said. "Actually, since I'm here why don't you tell me now?" Jay asked from the doorway.
A/N: Just when it looks like there might be a chance for Christine and Jay to have some sort of future with the twins, El Gato and Hailey Upton are coming back in the next chapter. Christine will do whatever it takes to protect her unborn children and the man she loves.