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"Why isn't it fair?"

"It just isn't, that's all My picture was the only dog picture until now That's why Miss Brightwell liked it so ht He took a s of coffee while he considered how to handle the situation He understood Carson's position better than his son realized Every tiht about Jeremy and his artistic talent and how much Jeremy had in common with Octavia, he was flooded with a wholly irrational jealousy, too

"Miss Brightwellpictures," Nick said

"She likes Anne's better than mine," Carson muttered

"How do you know that?"

"Anne's is better," Carson said

It was a siuy who knows his hopes are doohtwell thinks about your picture of Winston?" Nick asked "Is this just a simple manifestation of the Harte co on here?"

Carson frowned "Huh?"

Sometimes he had to remind himself that Carson wasn't quite six yet He was smart, but words like manifestation and competitive instinct could still throw him

"Rehtwell isn't going to choose a winning picture All the drawings will be exhibited There won't be any losers"

"Doesn't htwell doesn't like Anne's picture best," Carson grumbled

"Why do you care? I mean, let's face it, you've never shown a lot of interest in art until you decided to draw a picture for Miss Brightwell's show"

"I want Miss Brightwell to like ed "She likes artists If she thought I was a good artist, maybe she'd like me better"

"Better than what? Better than she likes Anne?"

Carson kicked the post again The bloas not so forceful this tiesture of frustration "I dunno"

"She likes you a lot," Nick said "Trust me"

Carson took another halfhearted shot at the post with the toe of his running shoe Definitely losing stea to deal with coht

They stood there in silence for a while, ht dance on the waters of the bay Nick finished his coffee

I want her to like me, too I don't want her to think of me as therapy or business I want her to wantsound and looked down, vaguely surprised to discover that he had crushed the empty coffee cup in his hand Irritated, he tossed the re to deal with coht Well, at least he wasn't going around kicking fence posts A definite sign of htwell to have dinner at our house tonight?"

"Think she'd come?" Carson asked with sudden enthusiasm

"I don't know," Nick said, determined to be honest "But we're a couple of Hartes That o after ant, even if we lose in the end"

"I know," Carson said, "she likes salads Tell her we're gonna have a really big salad"

"Good idea"