Page 118 of Robbin’ the Rich

And Micah would be volunteering at Lantern House.

Why was Micah volunteering at Lantern House?

My mind was racing. I looked up just in time to see the light was red, but I was going way too fast to slow down. Fuck. I needed to calm down.

Then I saw it, the dreaded red flashing lights.

Great. This was all I fucking needed right now.

I pulled over into a CarZone parking lot and got my license and registration ready and waited. After a few minutes the officer got out of his car and came to my window. I rolled down my window and put on the nicest smile I could muster.

“Do you know why I pulled you over?”

“I guessing it’s because I ran that red light?”

“Honesty. A surprising approach.”

I just shrugged. “I mean, we both know it.”

“I’m going to run these,” he said as he got my paperwork from me and walked back to his car.

Great, a ticket. Merry fucking Christmas.

When he returned he handed me my license and registration back and just told me to slow down.

“What, you're not giving me a ticket? Why is it because I’m white?”

The cop just furrowed his brow. “No. It’s because your record is clean and it’s four days before Christmas. But if you want a ticket, I can write you one.”

“No thank you. Sorry. It’s been a weird night.”

He nodded unamused. “Go home and drive safely.”

“Yes, sir.”

I rolled up my window. I needed to get a hold on myself. I made it home paying a little more attention to the road, but when I was in, I went into my office and pulled up the account transfer. It had been cancelled. Fuck.

What do I do now?

26

MICAH

It was the Sunday before Christmas Eve, and I just couldn’t get my mind off what my brother had said. If someone was investigating money around the church, would that lead them to Robin? I knew she knew her way around computers, but surely, she wouldn’t be able to outsmart a computer forensic detective… but then again if anyone could, it would be Robin.

But if they did find out it was her, my dad would press full charges. He might not be as socially conservative as the last minister of the church, but he didn’t fuck around when it came to people messing with him money.

I knew that better than anyone, because I knew that all the attempts to keep me in line were about maintaining the family's perfect image. They didn’t care about me or my ‘soul’, anywhere near as much as they cared about their bottom line.

I sat up on my couch. I knew what I had to do. As much as I didn’t want to, I had to keep Robin safe. I walked into my bathroom and hopped in the shower. After I pulled on a pair of khaki pants, a button down shirt, grabbed my phone, wallet, and keys and headed out the door.

All the air left my lungs. It had snowed about three inches last night. Nothing too bad, nothing a midwestern guy like me would even bat an eye at, it just meant I had to take the time to clean off my car, and the roads would be moving slower, barely making it was turning into a little late, but I could do it.

By the time I pulled into the parking lot of Ascension, church was just about to start. I used the valet to save some time and made my way in. Through a sea of friendly greetings, I made my way in. The narthex had been decorated with a live nativity. There were people there standing still as statues. Looks like we are going even bigger this year.

I went backstage and found my family. My mother saw me first and did a double take. “Micah, I’m surprised to see you sweetheart!” she said coming over to hug me. “It’s like our very own Christmas Miracle!”

The urge to roll my eyes was overwhelming, but I managed to keep the smile plastered across my face.