Dream a Little Scream (29 page)

A long beat passed while we all tried to absorb what had happened.

“If Leslie confessed, then there won't be a trial,” Lucinda said.

“That's right. She confessed to acting alone,” Ali said. “And she admitted everything. I think she feels badly that she got you involved, Lucinda.”

Lucinda rolled her eyes. “I should say so. It's going to take me a long time to get over this,” she said. “If I hadn't invited her to my house that evening, none of this would have happened. I'll always blame myself.”

“Lucinda, you can't look at it that way,” Ali told her. “Leslie was determined to kill Sonia, and she would have found another opportunity. It was just a matter of time.”

“But what about Jeremy popping up on the security tape at the grocery store?” Dorien asked. “Didn't that mean anything? I thought he must have slipped into the store to buy sesame seeds.”

“We all thought that, but we were wrong,” I piped up. “Nothing sinister about his trip to the grocery store; he needed some aspirin.”

“What will happen to the company, with Olivia gone?” Rose asked. “I always thought she was poised to take over Sonia's position.”

“Apparently not.” I thought of the wistful expression on her face when she talked about Chattanooga. “I think she'll be more eager than ever to get away. Her affair with Jeremy will end, and I think she'll want to move back to her hometown and start over.”

“And that sweet little girl Trudy Carpenter?” Minerva asked. “Do you suppose she'll ever be told the truth about Sonia?”

“There's probably no need to drop that bombshell on her,” I said quickly. “And we really don't have proof. Just a conversation with a waitress in Blessing.”

“Sometimes you should just let sleeping dogs lie,” Etta Mae offered. I had the feeling she was referring not only to Trudy but her own dispute over the family cookbook. With Sonia gone, who knew if the company would even continue? Without Sonia at the helm, the whole empire could collapse.

“And where does that leave us?” Rose asked. “It's ten in the morning, and I suppose we should all get started with our day. Unless,” she said hesitantly, “we want to have a quick meeting of the Dream Club?”

“I'll make a fresh pot of coffee,” I offered.

“And I have some chocolate croissants in the freezer,” Ali offered. “I'm trying to decide if we should add them to the menu downstairs.”

“Well, let's do a taste test,” Lucinda said, perking up. “I love chocolate croissants. I haven't had them in years.”

“Who wants to start with the dream reports?” Ali called from the kitchen.

Etta Mae raised her hand. “I had a really weird dream last night,” she said, “and I don't know what to make of it. I found myself in an Irish castle surrounded by acres and acres of wildflowers. Everything was light and airy and beautiful. I heard music coming from downstairs—I think they were having a ball—and I tiptoed down a carved oak staircase to see what was going on. Suddenly the scene shifted, a dark cloud crossed the sun, and . . .”

Ali joined me in the kitchen, and I scooted aside to give her room to defrost the tray of croissants. Just a few seconds in the microwave and they'd be perfect. The hazelnut coffee was already brewing, and the Savannah sunlight was slanting in the windows and making interesting patterns on the pine floors. Barney and Scout were curled up nose to tail for their morning naps on the windowsill.

I could hear Etta Mae's voice rise in excitement as she relayed the events in her dream. Sybil and Rose were already talking over each other, chiming in with interpretations. Dorien came up with a different take on the dream and was forcefully making her case, while Lucinda was trying to be diplomatic.

I was half listening to Etta Mae's dream and wondering what direction it would take. Would her dream hint at romance, happiness, and bliss? Or would it be a dark tale of death, destruction, and murder? I had no idea. Dreams are ephemeral, full of light and shadows, hinting at a reality that we can't fully grasp. They're elusive, mercurial, just outside our understanding. We can guess, but never know, their true meaning.

I glanced around the living room at the happy group deep in discussion and analysis. As long as we had the Dream
Club, there would be more dreams, more interpretations, more mysteries to solve. Some stories would end well; some would end in sadness and loss. I couldn't begin to predict what the future would hold for any of us. But for now, in my sunny Savannah kitchen, all was right with the
world.

What are your dreams trying to tell you? Do you ever dream of being stranded in a strange city in the dead of night, alone and afraid? Do you dream of wandering through a beautiful house, discovering hidden rooms filled with treasures? Dreams are our passport to the unconscious and understanding dream symbols can help you unlock their secrets.

• Being lost and alone is a frequent theme in dreams and suggests that you feel powerless and vulnerable in some area of your waking life. You literally don't know where to turn, and there is usually a strong element of danger in these dreams.
  
• Finding yourself in a beautiful house, filled with hidden rooms, is another common theme. The hidden rooms represent your potential, parts of yourself that you have never explored, skills and talents you have never developed.
  
• Standing on the edge of a cliff is another well-known dream feature. You might be facing a turning point in your life, facing a momentous decision. Sometimes in
  the “cliff” dream, you see a canyon across the way. The distance is insurmountable; there is no way you can bridge the gap. This usually means that there is an obstacle to an important goal in your waking life; the gap represents the barrier you must overcome.
  
• Driving a car—or riding in a car—features prominently in dreams. Are you driving or is someone else driving? If the car is careening down the road, it could mean that some element of your life is spinning out of control and needs to be addressed. If you are in the backseat, or unable to reach the pedals, it could mean that you seriously doubt your ability to control your own life and destiny. You may be overly dependent on others to make decisions for you.
  
• Cellars in dreams represent the deepest level of your unconscious. There is usually an element of darkness and danger in these dreams. Dreaming of being in a cellar can signify there is something in your conscious life that is hidden, something that you are afraid to face.
  
• Drowning in dreams usually means you are having trouble “keeping your head above water,” and water is a very powerful symbol of the unconscious. A flood represents the notion that you are about to be overwhelmed by a force more powerful than you are.
  

Symbols in dreams embody our greatest hopes and fears; understanding their significance can help uncover material that is useful in our waking lives. There is no single way to interpret your dreams because you are the architect of your life. Sharing your dreams in a dream club can offer valuable insights into dreams and the power of the
unconscious.

Looking for more?
Visit Penguin.com for more about this author and a complete list of their books.
Discover your next great read!