I was reading the paper and drinking coffee, which is my standard morning ritual, and especially savoring the unexpected time off from work. Wanting her full attention, I said, “Let’s talk about it when you’re sitting down at the table.”

“Oh, this must be big!” she said.

“Uh yeah, kind of, I think?”

“Can’t wait!” Maggie said as she placed a bowl of sliced watermelon on the table.

“Those croissants smell great!” I said, and as Maggie was carrying the rest of our breakfast out I said, “I can’t believe Layla is still asleep. She’s been out for 11 hours!”

“That girl had a big weekend too!” Maggie quipped.

“True,” I said.

“Okay, let’s hear it. The dream, what happened?” Maggie asked as she buttered her warm croissant.

Taking a sip of coffee, I said, “Well, Layla and I were walking barefoot on a beach. It was other-worldly. It was late evening and the sky had a strange blue-purple tint. The stars were coming out and it was moonrise, but there were two moons. Neither one of us seemed to care that we were in such a strange place. It all felt oddly familiar somehow.”