Happy People Read and Drink Coffee Read Online Free

inadvertently turned my face towards my literary café. Its little wooden window, the door in the middle with the bell inside, the name I’d chosen five years before with the sign, Happy People Read and Drink Coffee, everything took me back to my former life with Colin and Clara.
    Once I’d gotten my degree, my parents were in total despair about my inactivity, so they’d pulled out their checkbook. I made the mistake of saying that I’d like to work in a bookstore that was also a café. Colin was already a partner at his law firm and was enthusiastic about the idea. They’d agreed on starting the business: my parents had approved and they bought the literary café.Ever since Colin and Clara had died, my parents regularly pumped money into the place. As for me, I lived off of Colin’s life insurance and the compensation I’d collected. The morning of the opening stuck in my mind as one of general panic. The construction work wasn’t finished and we hadn’t unpacked all the books. Felix hadn’t arrived yet; I had to fight with the workmen alone so they’d get a move on. Colin called me every fifteen minutes to make sure we’d be ready for the opening that night. Each time, I’d held back my tears and laughed like an idiot. My very dear partner, looking as smart as anything, deigned to show up in the middle of the afternoon, while I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown because the sign still wasn’t hung above the door.
    â€œFelix, where have you been?” I shouted.
    â€œAt the hairdresser’s. And you should have done the same,” he replied, grabbing a lock of my hair with a disdainful look on his face.
    â€œAnd just when was I supposed to do that? Nothing is ready for tonight, I’ve been lying to Colin since this morning. I knew all along this was destined for disaster; this place is more a curse than a blessing. Why did my parents and Colin listen to me when I told them I wanted to open a literary café? I want nothing more to do with it.”
    My voice reached screaming pitch and I started rushing around in all directions, trying to do everything. Felix told all the workmen to get out and came over to me. He grabbed me and shook me hard.
    â€œEnough! From now on, I’m in charge. Go and get ready.”
    â€œThere’s not enough time!”
    â€œIt is out of the question that we open with an owner who looks like a Gorgon.”
    He pushed me out of the back door, the one that led to the studio that came with the café. Inside, I found a new dress and everything I needed to look pretty. An enormous bouquet of roses and freesias lay on the floor. I read Colin’s note. He told me again how much he believed in me.
    Opening night was a great success in the end, in spite of our accounts that showed virtually no profit—Felix declared himself responsible for the cash register. Colin’s winks and smiles encouraged me. I walked from table to table with Clara in my arms, between family, friends, my husband’s colleagues, Felix’s dubious acquaintances, and other shopkeepers from the street.
    Today, five years later, everything had changed. Colin and Clara were gone. I had no desire whatsoever to go back to work and everything in this place reminded me of my husband and my child. How proud Colin had been when he’d come to celebrate there—winning in court, Clara taking her first steps among the clients, the first time she wrote her name while sitting at the counter with a glass of grenadine.
    A shadow appeared on the sidewalk beside me. Felix clutched me close to him and rocked me in his arms.
    â€œYou know you’ve been standing here for half an hour; come with me.”
    I shook my head.
    â€œYou didn’t come for no reason; it’s time you came back to Happy People.”
    He held my hand and walked me across the street. He squeezed it when he pushed open the door. The little bell rang and I