A Measure of Happiness Read Online Free Page A

were a man half his age. Katherine had coped with their divorce by gaining the weight Barry had lost.
    Celeste filled the display case with blueberry muffins and came out from behind the counter. “Well?”
    Barry smacked his head with the heel of his hand. “Almost forgot.” He shrugged out of his fleece. According to protocol, Celeste ran her hands up and down either biceps. “Nice!” she said. Then, throwing a look over her shoulder to Katherine, “He’s going to make some lucky woman a fine husband someday.”
    â€œSpare me,” Katherine said, although her heart, hard as stale bread, flickered in her chest. At least Celeste overstepping gifted Katherine a glimpse of the girl who’d stormed from the bakery months ago, too fast to let the door hit her.
    Then Celeste scurried past Katherine and back into the kitchen, the joie de vivre drained from her face.
    Katherine waited until Celeste disappeared into the far end of the kitchen. “Did you see that? Did you see that look on her face?” Katherine tried not to notice the way Barry’s button-down gaped, pulled tight across his fit chest. She tried not to wonder whether his chest hair had grayed, along with the hair on his head. She tried not to remember how the curls tickled her lips when she took them between her teeth.
    Barry aimed his shrink gaze at Katherine and nodded. “You’re worried about your girl.”
    Katherine aimed her best anti-shrink gaze at her ex. But, heaven help her, she still felt validated. The Stinker. “She drove all night, she barely slept.”
    â€œShe’s passionate, like another woman I know.”
    â€œShe was passionate about leaving.”
    â€œShe changed her mind. Got there, and it wasn’t what she’d expected. She was disappointed. Sound familiar?”
    Katherine had never been disappointed in Barry. When they were married and trying to conceive, he’d been disappointed in her. She ignored the dig. “She’s all wound up. Wound into herself.” Katherine huffed out a breath, looked to the pressed tin ceiling.
    â€œOy vay, Katherine. You are such a worrier. You sure you’re not Jewish? An honorary Jew?”
    â€œNot anymore.”
    â€œJewish by inoculation.” Barry waggled his brows over his coffee.
    Heat pulsed from Katherine’s cheeks. She hadn’t been inoculated in quite some time, and she’d half a mind to tell Barry flu season was upon them. But then she remembered the reason she’d divorced him: to give him a chance for a family with someone else.
    Despite showing up at her bakery six mornings a week, he dated most weekend nights. Barry would never say so; he’d never be that cruel. But town gossip wasn’t known for its sensitivity.
    Barry’s playful grin turned serious. “Here’s an idea. Have you asked Celeste why she’s back?”
    â€œGive me some credit.”
    â€œWant me to read her mind?’
    Katherine grinned. If Barry possessed that skill, he would’ve divorced her years before she’d gotten the nerve to do the deed.
    â€œYou found her hard at work, first thing this morning? I’d say Celeste must be the mind reader. She must’ve sensed you’ve been scrambling without her, searching high and low for a helper or two. She must’ve read it in the tarot.”
    â€œHush up.”
    â€œNever mind. That would be you. So why didn’t you sense her returning?”
    â€œI’m sensing you leaving now. Am I right?”
    â€œGot any mundel bread?” he said, referring to the Jewish pastry she made for him. Sad to say, when she’d tried the biscotti-like cookie at Lamontagne’s, it didn’t sell half as well as actual biscotti, but she hadn’t minded the special request at-home cookie order. She hadn’t minded any of his requests. With the exception of his determination to start a family, the man was too laid-back,