27. Robin
ROBIN
It was Christmas Eve at my parent’s house, and I still couldn’t muster any holiday cheer. Unlike Thanksgiving, my uncle’s family was able to make it, which helped. That way I could just sit here in silence and eat my lasagna just like I did every Christmas Eve, even if this one felt utterly empty.
“Oh, Bill. I forgot to tell you. We had some excitement here last week,” my dad said.
“Oh, we did!”
“Let me tell them Susan, I so rarely have tales of such intrigue.”
Even in my desolation, my parents still made me smile. They’re the only reason I never gave up on love. They are two of the most normal people I’ve ever met, but also so annoyingly in love with each other.
I shoveled another bite of lasagna into my mouth as my father settled in to tell a good story. All the signs were there that they were in for a good one, from the way he settled in to making sure he had everyone’s full attention.
“So Tuesday–”
“No it was Wednesday," my mom corrected.
“Right, Wednesday–”
“I remember it was Wednesday because Jeopardy was on and I was making roasted chicken for dinner.”
“Can I just get on with it?” my father jokingly snapped at her.
She pantomimed zipping her mouth shut and throwing away the key.
“Thank you. So, Wednesday there was a knock at the door, and wouldn’t you know when I answered the door there were two police officers standing there.”
My fork clattered to my plate. Everyone turned to look at me, but I just picked up my fork and kept eating.
“They asked if they could have a word, so of course I invited them in. Then they continue to ask me about my ties to Ascension.”
“Which, he assured them we don’t have,” my mother said, for my benefit.
“Yes, of course. They were asking because I was doing a little pro bono work for them and their accounting, and apparently some money has slowly started going missing.”
“My my, were you nervous?” asked my aunt.
“No, why would I be nervous? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Spoken like an average middle-aged white man. I on the other hand was starting to spiral. I had definitely done something illegal. Not wrong though.
“I think it was probably their youngest son… there was always something off about him,” my aunt added.
Fuck. What was I going to do?
“That is what I thought too.”
“And you would be right,” my dad said.
Once again, my fork clattered to my plate. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I don’t know the specifics. But when my friend who was helping with the work found out he called me and told me what was going on.”
What was going on? Because I knew what was going on and it wasn’t this.
“Apparently two of his sons got together and were skimming money off the church.”
“What? What do you mean?” I demanded.
My whole family turned to look at me.
“Don’t worry honey, I don’t think Micah was involved. It was probably that young one and the older one. He was the one so involved. He probably—where are you going?”
“I’m sorry, but I have to go. I have to —”
I was already putting on my coat and trying to shove my feet into my combat boots. Why do I wear shoes that take so long to put on? I sat on the step and started tying my laces.
My mom came around from the dining room. “Honey, what’s wrong?” she asked with a serious tone in her voice.
“It wasn’t Micah or his little brother. It was me. Micah is taking the fall for something I did. I can’t let him do that.”
“Let me get my coat.” Like it was nothing, she got her coat from the hall closet.
“Robin, what’s going — Susan, where are you going? It’s seven thirty on Christmas Eve.”
“I’m not sure, but Robin needs our help. I’m sure she’ll explain on the way, get your coat, darling.”
And just like that my dad was pulling on his own coat calling to his brother to lock up when they were done eating.
“Oh, and there is a Yule Log cake on the kitchen counter. Help yourself!” my mother added.
I gaped at them. They would drop anything for me. And this is how they had always been. I couldn’t help it. I ran into my dad, and he instantly wrapped his arms around me.
“What’s happening, sweetheart?”
“Well… I may have done something illegal. I’ll explain, but I need to go to the church.”
Before I knew it I was in the back seat of my parent’s sedan explaining how I hacked into the system after finding the paperwork in my dad’s office and Micah was going to take the fall.
“Okay, honey, everything will be fine. It’s only been a couple months. We will take care of it,” my dad said.
“It’s kind of romantic though,” said my mother in a wistful voice.
“What is romantic?”
“Micah taking the fall for you. Honey, are you sure you won’t take him back?”
“Now is not the time. I need to get all this sorted first.”
We pulled into the church’s parking garage. The atrium was empty except for a few security guards. It looked like the service had already begun.
When we get in one of the guards tells us to enter quietly and sit in the back.
I go in and I have to give it to them; it really is beautiful.
It is lit by thousands of candles, and they act out the nativity with a choir of angels singing from the stage.
I sit towards the back. Then I spot Micah sitting next to his mother and younger brother.
My heart almost stops beating in my chest at the sight of him. He looked exactly the same, even if his eyes did have a hollow quality.
I should have been patient. I should have sat here and waited for the service to end before I pulled him aside… I should’ve, but I couldn’t.
I got up and slowly started creeping down the side aisle, inching my way towards him. My parents, being who they are, stood and crept behind me. That was not helping me to be less conspicuous.
I could feel every single eye on me, or at least it felt that way.
I knew the ushers were closing in. Then, as if he could sense me Micah’s head turned.
His eyes connected with mine, and it was as if time slowed.
Then he turned back to the stage, it was like a balloon popped in my heart.
Then his head whipped back to me with an utter look of confusion on his face.
He gave his head a little shake before he smiled at me at the same moments angels sang on the stage.
He stood, then all eyes were on us. The ushers had reached us and were quietly trying to escort us out. I turned back to Micah who was walking right for me.
I let the ushers escort us out where the security officers were waiting for us. Micah came out the door as the security guard wrapped his hand around my wrist.
“Let her go.”
The guard turned to Micah. “She was about to interrupt the service.”
“I don’t care–”
“What is going on out here?” another voice demanded in a whispered hush.
A man who looked like Micah, only a little beefier, with short, neat hair and a tailored suit stepped into the middle of us.
“Take them to my father’s office. We will deal with this when the service is over.”
“Is that really necessary?” my mother asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
We were ushered into an office the size of my entire apartment.
“Wait here,” said the man I’m assuming was Micah’s brother.
“Robin, what are you doing here?” Micah said, walking over to me putting his hands on my shoulders.
My instant reaction was to lean into him and wrap my arms around him, but we weren’t there yet.
“Did you take the rap for me?”
He pulled back and looked at me. “Is this about Lantern House?”
“Yes. Did you say you did it?”