The Soft Whisper of Dreams by Christina Courtenay Read Free Book Online Page B

you do laugh I’ll hit you over the head with my paint box.’
    He chuckled. ‘Sounds like a horrendous punishment. I promise to behave.’ Which was not what he wanted to do around her at all. Quite the opposite. With an inward sigh he picked up the menu.
     
    ‘Maddie, are you there? Can I come in?’
    Kayla knocked, but came into Maddie’s room before she received an answer. Maddie didn’t mind though. Her friend often popped in for an evening chat after she’d put her children to bed.
    ‘Come on in.’ Maddie was sitting by the open window, her chin resting on her arms, and she’d been lost in thought.
    Kayla walked over to sit down on the window seat next to her. ‘Hey, are you all right?’
    ‘Yes, I think so.’ Maddie sighed and stared into the distance once more. Am I all right? She wasn’t sure.
    ‘Well, you seemed a bit sort of lost during dinner and now you look almost … haunted. I couldn’t help wondering if something was the matter. Did Alex upset you today? I know he can be quite the charmer, but I thought he had grown out of his old ways and stopped flirting with anything in a skirt.’
    ‘Alex? No, he has nothing to do with this. I’m sorry if I wasn’t very good company.’
    ‘That’s okay. What’s up then?’
    ‘Well ...’ Maddie hesitated, then made up her mind. She had to tell someone or she’d go mad. ‘Kayla, you know I told you about the strange things that gypsy woman said to me and how they fit in with a recurring dream I have?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Today something happened and I think it might be connected with her prophecy somehow.’
    ‘How do you mean?’
    Maddie knew Kayla had experienced strange things herself a few years past, so it didn’t surprise her that she didn’t question Maddie’s feelings. As far as Kayla was concerned, paranormal things happened and she believed in them wholeheartedly.
    ‘It was weird, but a man bumped into me down by the marina in Dartmouth, and when I looked at him I thought I recognised him. At first I wasn’t sure why, but I’ve thought about it and I think he’s the man in my dream. The one who grabs me from behind.’ She shuddered. ‘The one who is evil, as the gypsy said.’
    ‘Did he give any sign that he knew you?’
    ‘No, he was just angry, as if the whole thing had been my fault. Called me a bloody tourist, or something like that. I followed him on impulse and found out he’s a minister of some sort called Blake-Jones. Have you heard of him?’
    ‘Oh, yes, actually I have. He’s one of those “fire and brimstone” preachers who put the fear of God into their congregations. Leader of some strange sect apparently. A friend of mine told me he has a wife and daughter who creep around like mice, afraid of their own shadows. The man must be a bully.’
    ‘Sounds right. He sure looked like one! Grumpy as hell. Not my idea of a man of God.’ Maddie shivered again, recalling that dark visage.
    ‘So what are you going to do about it? Are you going to talk to him?’
    ‘No way, absolutely not! I’d rather not meet him again, thank you very much, but I’ve come to a decision. I think I need to find out who I really am. You know, who my real parents were, like you said. Perhaps my strange dreams are connected to my past. What do you think?’
    ‘Are you sure they don’t just stem from some incident in your childhood? I mean, you would hardly remember anything from before your adoption since you were only a baby. Did you ever ask your parents?’
    ‘I told my mum about the dream when I was little, but she always said it was just my imagination. My parents didn’t have any friends or acquaintances with either black or red beards. In fact, none with beards at all. Anyway, if something had happened to me that could result in such nightmares, I’m sure she would have told me.’
    ‘Hmm, well, maybe you’re right. You do need to find out more. If I were you, I think I’d be curious anyway. There must have been a good