Page 99 of It takes a Psychic

“Fair point,” Molly said. “Actually, I’m glad you suggested we do lunch and this ride today. I needed a break. Between the increased business at Singing Crystals and all the wedding preparations, I’m feeling a little frazzled.”

“I understand.” Leona put her arm around her and hugged her. “You’re happy, though, aren’t you? Really, truly happy?”

“Yes. Joshua is the one.”

“I’m so glad.”

“What about you?”

“Truth? I’m sort of holding my breath.”

“Well, you’ve only just met Oliver,” Molly pointed out. “There’s no rush.”

“I know. I’m holding my breath because part of me is afraid to believe I’ve met the right man.”

“If it makes you feel any better, the moms and I had a long talk about the wisdom of your relationship with Oliver Rancourt.”

Leona flinched. “You did?”

“Of course we did. We’re your family. We concluded that the fact that you’ve broken the rules for him indicates he may be the one. Looks like the Griffin free spirit sisterhood is about to be officially closed due to lack of membership.”

“Nothing will ever be the same now that I’ve met Oliver, that’s for sure. I don’t think I could go back—”

She broke off because the gates of the dark ride’s tunnel abruptly opened in front of the boat. Roxy and Newton chortled madly as the craft sailed through the entrance. When the gates slammed shut again, utter darkness descended. Leona could no longer see her hand in front of her face.

The special effects and scary scenes started appearing and disappearing immediately. Leona thought she was prepared but she yelped in spite of herself when a ghostly spider flew at them out of the darkness. It was followed by a monstrous creature with a mouthful of jagged teeth.

She was not the only one who jumped.

“Yikes,” Molly said. “So much for the ‘moderately scary’ ranking on this ride.”

The creature with the big teeth reached out with long claws, barely missing Leona’s shoulder. She shrieked again. An instant later, the boat whipped around a sharp turn and plunged down a short waterfall. Strange sea creatures, mouths agape, waited at the bottom.

Roxy and Newton were ecstatic. Their chortling reverberated inside the dark tunnel.

Leona caught glimpses of their silhouettes occasionally, but that was about it. For the most part, she could not see them or anything else except the frightening special effects.

Shrieks and yelps of surprise echoed from somewhere in the deep shadows behind them. Another boat had entered the dark ride.

A mad scientist wielding a huge syringe filled with glowing green fluid appeared at Leona’s side. She screamed. The figure disappeared as the boat rounded a bend in the river.

“You know, you’d think it would not be so easy to freak out a couple of women who have been through what we’ve been through in recent weeks,” Molly said.

“I just hope Roxy doesn’t realize that this theme park sells yearly passes.”

More screams and startled laughter sounded from other people on the ride. There was another sharp twist in the river. Water splashed over the side of the boat, dampening Leona’s jeans.

She was about to ask Molly if she had gotten wet, too, when she became aware of the sudden silence at the front of the small boat. She stilled.

“Roxy?”

There was no response.

“Newton?” Molly called softly.

More silence.

“This is probably not good,” Leona said.

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