Nightmares Can Be Murder (A Dream Club Mystery)

by Mary Kennedy

  “Shall we start on a dream interpretation, ladies?” Sybil glanced at her watch. “This murder has taken up most of the meeting.” She tsk-tsked.

  “Who wants to go first?” Ali asked.

  Dorien was silent, idly petting Barney, who’d jumped up next to her on the sofa. Her abrasiveness had vanished; now she had a perpetually worried frown on her face. Lucinda looked demure, wearing a classic gray sheath with matching pumps. The Harper sisters were happily munching on Ali’s new desserts, cheerful as ever, and Minerva looked up with a bright smile.

  “Taylor,” she said, her eyes beaming, “you look like there’s something you want to share with us?”

  I smiled and hesitated. So much had happened in the past couple of weeks that I barely had time to make sense of it. “I . . . well, it’s not a dream, but I do have some news,” I began.

  Rose clapped her hands together. “I bet I know what it is. You’re going to stay in Savannah!”

  “Honestly, Rose,” her sister chided. “Let the poor girl tell her story her own way. Go ahead, Taylor,” she urged.

  “Yes, tell us,” Ali said, slipping into a seat next to me.

  I looked around the circle. I felt connected with all these women; along with Ali, they were my family. “I’ve decided to stay,” I blurted out. “I’m selling my condo in Chicago and moving in with Ali. We’re going to run the shop together.”

  “I knew we could win you over!” Ali said, reaching over and giving me a quick hug. “This is what I’ve always hoped for,” she said, her eyes moist with happy tears.

  The meeting went on for another hour, and it was dark when we ushered the last guest down the stairs to the front door. It had been an emotional evening for both of us, and Ali decided to turn in, Barney trailing after her.

  I was making a cup of chamomile tea when Noah called.

  “I go out of town for a few days and look what happens,” he teased. Sara told me that after learning that I was all right, he’d immediately left on a business trip to Atlanta. Apparently a Fortune 500 company was trying to recruit him to head up a new threat management and risk assessment division. I was sure the pay was tempting, and I wondered what he’d decided.

  “I have news,” we both blurted out at the same time.

  “You first,” Noah said, his voice husky.

  “I’ve decided to stay in Savannah,” I said quickly. “Ali and I are going to be co-owners of the shop.” I hesitated. “It’s a big leap, but I’m going to start a new life here.”

  “Wow,” he said softly. “Not what I was expecting but I’m glad to hear it.” A beat. “I had an interview in Atlanta—” he began.

  “I know, Sara told me,” I cut in fast. “What did you decide?” My pulse jumped. Was I going to lose him again? I felt a ripple of regret over the time we’d gone our separate ways in Atlanta. Our work lives had taken up our whole existence, and our relationship had ground to a halt. Was this a case of history repeating itself?

  The silence stretched out for a moment, and then he said, “I decided to stay here.” His voice was strong, firm. I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath, and I let it out in a little sigh. This is exactly what I’d been hoping for.

  “When did you decide?”

  “Just now,” he said, his voice slipping over me like a caress. “I can’t leave Savannah because I can’t leave you.” A long pause. “I think we need to talk. In person,” he added. “Is it too late to come over?”

  I swallowed and managed to find my voice. Scout jumped on my lap, and I looked around the cheerful kitchen. The black cat with the rolling eyes was swishing his tail on the wall clock, and all was right with the world. I grinned, and a little curl of desire fluttered in my stomach.

  “It’s never too late,” I told him.

  Dream Symbol Guide

  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. 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.

  Dreaming of 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.