26. Micah
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.
“I knew you’d do the right thing, son,” said my dad, clasping my shoulder.
Daniel looked happy to see me, but Caleb eyed me suspiciously.
“Let’s go have a Christmas service.”
We all headed out onto the stage before everyone except my dad took out seats in the front row.
This service used to be magical, but it had turned into more of a spectacle.
Angles flew in from the ceiling sharing the good news.
Mary sang a power ballad about God’s love at the manger.
And in the audience was a sea of praise hands.
Then in a dramatic moment with some pyrotechnics my father raised from a trap door on the stage to give his sermon. It all was so hollow.
I did not want to be here. But more than that, I did not want to see Robin get punished for doing the right thing.
After sitting through the service, I went back to the room my family usually meets in before my dad leaves to go to whatever after service responsibilities he had, but since it was Christmas service, there wasn’t much.
It was time.
“Ummm, can I talk to you guys for a sec?” I asked.
Nerves were threatening to get the better of me, but I knew what was going to happen.
I knew I was going to get a speech about how disappointed they were.
I knew I was going to have to make a deal to do what they said again.
But I also knew they would cover it up to protect the family's image.
“We have dinner waiting for us at home. Can this wait?”
“No. I need to tell you something right now.”
Pastor Nottingham came out from behind his desk and leaned against the front crossing his hands over his chest. “What is it, Micah?”
Why do I suddenly feel like I’m eight years old again?
“In fall I got really mad at the family and I did something.”
My mother’s expression fell. “What did you do, son?”
“I got tired of the way some people in the church treat people… so I took it upon myself to wire a monthly transfer to Lantern House. I hid it under…” Oh crap… What did Robin say… “Good Samaritan Ministries,” I said quickly.
“You did that?” my dad asked. He eyed me closely, but I had to sell it.
“Yeah, it’s not hard. I took some account numbers from the church, looked up how to hack into a system online and did it. I just wanted you guys to know that.”
I glanced over at Caleb who was looking at me wide eyed.
“I just didn’t want anyone else to get in trouble for what I did.”
Everyone was quiet for what felt like an eternity.
“Why on earth would you do that?” My mother’s voice broke the silence. And then everyone spoke.
“Micah. What are we going to do with you?” she continued.
“You have to pay all the money back,” said my older brother at the same time.
“I’m very disappointed in you,” my dad’s voice said over it all.
But my younger brother just sat there taking it all in, eyes still on me.
Once the chaos died down my dad looked at me.
“Well, now we know. And you will not have to pay it back.” My brother moved to protest, but my father stilled his with one raised hand.
“But you will be a part of this family again. That means you will be a part of this church again. You will come to services. You will play in the band. You will volunteer your time. Do you understand?”
I bowed my head. “Yes, Sir.”
“Now, with all this unpleasantness behind us. Let’s go have a nice family dinner,” said my mother, smiling like none of that had just happened.
And just like that, we all filed out of the room like the happy family we were supposed to be.
When I was about halfway to the parking lot, Caleb pulled me into a storage room.
“What the —?”
“What the fuck are you doing? You don’t know how to hack a computer. You don’t have to cover for me.”
“I’m not covering for you.”
“Yes, you are. I’ll be fine Micah. I don’t need you to do this. I told you after Christmas I would fix it.”
“This isn’t about you Caleb.”
That stopped him, he pulled back and looked at me. “It’s not?”
“No. It’s not.”
I turned to leave, but he pulled me back. “Then what the fuck was that. Not only do you not know how to do that, but you never would have. What is going on?”
“It’s none of your concern. I gotta go pretend this family isn’t thoroughly fucked up as we all smile and talk about the church’s bottom line.”
I turned and made my way out of the storeroom. Luckily the valet already had my car pulled up and I got in.
I just started driving. I knew eventually I would have to go to my parent’s house. I knew it was where I would be every Sunday from here on out, but at least Robin would be safe.
The thought of her still made my heart ache. I’d been so close to being with someone I truly loved. Happiness was right at my fingertips until I fucked it all up.
This was what I deserved.