Page 30 of It takes a Psychic

Out of nowhere, Leona got a little ping of excitement. “Really? That’s interesting.”

Charlotte pinned her with a severe look. “Why?”

Leona waved one hand in a vague way. “Just another data point.” She looked at Eugenie. “Go on.”

“Evidently the Rancourt family’s association with the Foundation for the Study of Atypical Phenomena dates back to the Old World. Here on Harmony the organization has a reputation for cutting-edge paranormal R and D. It takes mostly government contracts and much of its work is highly classified.” Eugenie scrolled rapidly. “The Rancourt Museum is legit but it is not open to the public. Its primary objective is to support the research of the Foundation. Security is very tight.”

“I’d really like to take a look at that collection,” Leona said.

Eugenie lowered her phone and fixed her with a mom stare. “Speaking of interesting data points, I told you that Rancourt was not registered with a matchmaking agency. That much was true. What I didn’t know until I talked to one of my contacts was that Oliver Rancourt was married in a Covenant Marriage ceremony.”

Leona felt as if she had fallen into a very deep well. “I see.” Then she rallied. “Hewasmarried? Widowed?”

Molly asked the question that had to be asked. “Divorced?”

“Neither,” Eugenie said.

“Then, what—?” Leona asked.

“The marriage was annulled,” Eugenie said quietly.

They all took a beat to absorb that news. Annulments happened but they were extremely rare.

“What were the grounds?” Charlotte asked.

“Unknown,” Eugenie said. “The records were sealed by the court. That’s standard practice because, legally speaking, the marriage was declared null and void. Technically, it never existed.”

“Except, of course, it did,” Molly pointed out.

Charlotte pursed her lips. “Annulments are difficult to get. There are very few grounds. Bigamy, age-of-consent issues, fraud, or failure to declare a complete para-psych profile.”

Leona remembered Oliver’s powerful energy field and the way he had slipped through the crowd as if he were invisible. “Probably the last one in Rancourt’s case—failure to declare a complete para-psych profile. I got the impression he is a very high-grade talent.”

Eugenie raised her brows. “There is one more reason for an annulment—failure to consummate the marriage.”

Leona choked on the coffee she had just swallowed.Did not even think of that possibility.

She lowered the mug and considered the unmistakably sexual vibe she had picked up during her time with Oliver. She had been aware of a low, smoldering heat in the atmosphere between them that had thrilled her senses.

“Anything is possible, I suppose,” she said. “But I doubt that failure to consummate the marriage was grounds for the annulment in Rancourt’s case.”

She did not realize she had sounded far too sure of herself until itdawned on her that the others were watching her with very intent expressions.

“Just idle speculation,” she said quickly.

“Right,” Charlotte said. “Idle speculation.”

Molly smiled a superior, knowing smile, the sort of smile only a sister can pull off effectively. “It occurs to me that neither rule number one nor rule number two of the free spirit sisterhood was designed to cover annulments. We never even contemplated that option when we made the rules.”

Leona was annoyed by the flush she knew was heating her face. She and Molly had established the rules for dating shortly after they had accepted the fact that they would probably never marry. Their status as orphans combined with the mystery of their births were serious impediments, but the real issue was their para-psych profiles. It was obvious that no matchmaking agency would take them on as clients, not if they were honest on the registration questionnaires.

The moms had pressured both of them to register with an agency and to lie when it came to questions about their profiles.Everyone lies on those damned questionnaires,Eugenie had assured them.There’s plenty of time to discuss that side of things in private with the person they select for you. Or not. Everyone is entitled to their secrets.

The moms meant well, Leona thought. But early on, she and Molly had decided they would not marry unless they found potential spouses who could deal with the mysteries of their birth and their profiles. They knew the odds were stacked against them, so they had determined to live by their own rules.

Rule number one: Never date a married person or one who is registered with an agency.

Rule number two: No sleepovers. They were too risky. They had the power to turn a simple dating relationship into something more; thepower to make a woman dream. A free spirit had to maintain some emotional distance for the sake of protecting her heart.

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