Chapter 5: My Mother Had Known
The drive home was quiet.
Dad kept both hands on the steering wheel.
I sat in the passenger seat, holding my phone and reading the scholarship email again.
Cameron Russell.
Final review stage.
My name wasn't anywhere.
“Dad?””
“I'm listening.””
“What if they give him the scholarship?””
He glanced at me.
“Then we'll show them the truth.””
“But what if they don't believe me?””
“They will have evidence.””
I looked out the window.
Detroit passed in gray buildings, traffic lights, and familiar storefronts.
I had imagined driving downtown for the gallery exhibition.
I'd imagined Grandma's portrait hanging under bright lights.
I'd even imagined bringing Dad and Mom to see it.
Now I couldn't stop wondering whether Cameron would be standing there accepting an award for something he hadn't created.
When we arrived home, Cameron was on the couch.
His new poster was already hanging on the wall.
Rochelle sat beside him, holding a cup of coffee.
Both looked up when we entered.
Cameron immediately put his phone down.
“Here we go.””
Dad placed his keys on the counter.
“Get up.””
Cameron frowned.
“What?””
“Get up. We're talking.””
Mom stood.
“Russell, don't start yelling.””
“I'm not yelling.””
He pulled out his phone and opened the email Ms. Whitmore had forwarded.
“Cameron, why did you submit your portfolio through your sister's account?””
My brother leaned back.
“I didn't.””
Dad turned the screen toward him.
“Then explain this.””
Cameron glanced at it.
His eyes moved quickly over the details.
Then he shrugged.
“I was helping her.””
“By replacing her work with yours?””
“I was trying to show them my art.””
“Under her name?””
Cameron sighed.
“Man, Dad. It's not that serious.””
I stepped forward.
“You used Grandma's portrait.””
He looked at me.
“Here we go again.””
“You copied my artist statement, too.””
“I changed it.””
“You used my photograph!””
Cameron stood.
“Because it was a good picture! What's your problem?””
“My problem is that you submitted my work as yours!””
Rochelle moved closer to him.
“Everybody needs to calm down.””
Dad looked at her.
“Did you know?””
She blinked.
“Know what?””
“That Cameron accessed Imani's account.””
“I don't know anything about passwords.””
“That's not what I asked.””
Mom set her coffee down.
“I knew he was working on an application.””
I looked at her.
“You knew?””
She turned toward me.
“He told me he wanted to apply for an art opportunity.””
“And you knew he was using my account?””
Her eyes shifted briefly toward Cameron.
That tiny movement told me more than her words.
Cameron rubbed the back of his neck.
“Mom, I told you this wasn't going to be a problem.””
Dad stepped closer.
“Answer the question, Rochelle.””
She folded her arms.
“I knew he was putting together a portfolio. I didn't know every detail.””
I stared at her.
“Did you know he used Grandma's portrait?””
Mom hesitated.
Then she looked at Cameron.
“Is that what happened?””
He shook his head.
“I used a picture she had on her phone. She wasn't doing anything with it.””
I felt something inside me break a little further.
“It's my grandmother.””
“And she's my grandmother, too!””
“Then why did you tear up my drawing?””
Cameron looked away.
Dad's voice became quiet.
“Did you tell him to do this?””
Mom's expression hardened.
“Don't put this on me.””
“I asked you a question.””
“I said I knew he was applying. I didn't know he was going to use her account.””
Cameron suddenly spoke.
“Mom, you literally said I should use whatever materials I could find.””
The room went silent.
Rochelle turned sharply.
“Cameron.””
He looked at her.
“What? That's what you said.””
Dad slowly lowered his phone.
“Whatever materials you could find?””
Mom shook her head.
“He's twisting my words.””
I looked at her.
“Did you tell him to use my artwork?””
“No!””
“Did you tell him to use my photograph?””
“I didn't tell him to steal anything!””
Cameron laughed under his breath.
“Can we stop using that word?””
Dad turned toward him.
“What word would you prefer?””
“Borrowing.””
I stared at my brother.
“You can't borrow something without asking.””
He threw his hands up.
“Fine! I used your picture. Big deal. It's not like you were going to win anyway.””
The words landed in the room like a slap.
Dad took a slow breath.
“Why do you think she wasn't going to win?””
Cameron shrugged.
“Because she's still in high school. I'm older. I have a better chance.””
“Then why didn't you apply with your own work?””
“I did!””
Dad pointed at the document.
“Where?””
Cameron said nothing.
Dad opened the file again.
“Show me which pieces you created.””
My brother looked toward Mom.
She stepped between them.
“Russell, you're embarrassing him.””
“I'm asking him to identify his own work.””
“He's under pressure.””
“So is Imani.””
Mom shook her head.
“You don't understand what it's like for him. He hasn't figured out what he wants to do with his life. This could help him.””
I felt my fingers tighten around my phone.
“What about my life?””
Rochelle looked at me.
“You have time.””
“That's what you always say.””
“Because it's true.””
“No, Mom. It's what you say whenever Cameron wants something.””
Dad looked at me, but he didn't interrupt.
I continued.
“When Cameron needed the living room wall, you let him destroy my portrait. When he wanted the scholarship, you let him use my account. When I said something, you told me to draw another picture.””
My voice cracked.
“What am I supposed to do when he wants everything I have?””
For the first time, Mom didn't immediately answer.
Cameron picked up his phone.
“I'm leaving.””
Dad moved toward the hallway.
“Sit down.””
“I'm twenty years old!””
“And you're still living under this roof. Sit down.””
Cameron reluctantly dropped onto the couch.
Dad turned to Rochelle.
“Did you know the scholarship application had advanced?””
She looked confused.
“What?””
I held up my phone.
“His application made the final review.””
Cameron's head snapped toward me.
“You saw that?””
“Yes.””
Mom looked at him.
“You told me it was just an application.””
“It is.””
“Then why is it in the final review?””
Cameron rubbed his face.
“Because they liked it.””
Dad looked at the screen.
“Then we need to contact them.””
Cameron jumped up.
“No!””
His reaction was immediate.
Too immediate.
Dad stared at him.
“Why not?””
“Because you're going to ruin everything!””
“I'm correcting a false submission.””
“You're trying to ruin my future!””
I looked at him.
“And what about mine?””
He didn't answer.
Instead, he grabbed his jacket and walked toward the front door.
Dad didn't follow him.
But just before Cameron stepped outside, his phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
Mom noticed.
“What is it?””
He quickly locked the phone.
“Nothing.””
Then he left.
Rochelle watched the door close.
Dad turned toward her.
“There's something you haven't told us.””
She shook her head.
“I've told you everything.””
But she wouldn't meet his eyes.
And when Dad asked her to look at him and repeat that answer, she picked up her coffee instead.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
At 10:36 p.m., my phone received another email.
This time, it was from the scholarship committee.
*SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR VERIFICATION*
They wanted confirmation of the original artwork, the artist statement, and the identity of the person who had submitted the replacement portfolio.
I read the message three times.
Then I opened the attached document.
There was a section asking whether any family member had assisted with the submission.
I selected no.
But before I could finish, a message arrived from an unknown number.
Imani, this is Cameron. Don't answer that email until we talk.
I stared at the message.
A second text appeared.
Mom already knows what will happen if you tell them everything.
My heart began beating faster.
May you like
Then came a third message.
Ask her about the money.
