Page 121 of Robbin’ the Rich

“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.