Loving You (Remembrance Series, Book 2) by Cynthia P. O'Neill Page B

beautiful park-like setting, complete with a fountain. I opted for one of the nicer sun dresses and lightweight jackets that Lorraine had bought me, in a summer multi-color pattern. Gregory wore a medium blue polo shirt and khaki pants.
    The photographer posed us in a variety of positions to capture every possible angle and replicated every romantic engagement stock photo in existence; or at least that’s what it felt like. Thankfully, he was careful to pose me where I didn’t have to twist my torso or put my arm in an unnatural pose. My mother and Lorraine, who tagged along, piped up, periodically, with a few ideas of their own, as well.
    The photographer was beyond efficient. Apparently, Lorraine had explained our timing was short, as a result of my accident, and she needed to send out Engagement Party announcements, as soon as possible. Because he came prepared with his laptop, we were able to see samples of the packages he offered and were promised the photos back to us within a week or less.
    We were so pleased with his photos that we hired him for the Engagement Party, at Lorraine’s urging. It made me wonder if she hadn’t tentatively scheduled him already.
    Gregory and I agreed on several photos to order, but everyone’s favorite was the park setting with me backed against the tree and him leaning in to kiss me. He held my hand with a rose in his, proudly displaying my engagement ring. That would be the one we sent with the party announcements.
    After the pictures, we picked up some lunch and stopped off at Gregory’s place so he could check his mail and pick up a few items. Lorraine gave Mom the full tour of her son’s townhome, while Gregory took care of unpacking the lunches, before taking a seat next to me on the sofa.
    I had to laugh at the expression on my mom’s face when she walked into the living room. I remembered doing a double take and feeling like I had walked into my own home, because we had duplicate furniture, with the exception of the entertainment center. She kept asking, “Are you sure you didn’t move your things into his place? His bedroom furniture looks almost exactly like yours, with exception of it being bigger and the living area…I’m speechless.”
    I reassured her all of my apartment furnishings were just down the road in a storage facility and that nothing of mine was currently at Gregory’s. But, I would eventually need to figure out what we could combine and what we would need to get rid of. “I had the same reaction, Mom. Apparently, he and I have very similar tastes.”
    We eventually made our way toward the Worthington’s home, where we set Mom up in a room just down the hall from Gregory and me. The rest of the day was spent lounging around the pool and enjoying each other’s company, before cooking dinner out on the lanai.
    Gregory finally got his wish of seeing me in a bikini, because the one piece compressed my ribs a bit too much. Everyone winced at the sight of the fading bruises; but was happy to see that I was getting around a bit better.
    Gregory used the excuse of my needing sunscreen as an opportunity to touch my skin. I finally told him to give me a break before I started sliding off the patio furniture and into the pool from sheer excess of lotion.
    I loved that Gregory was so attentive and cared for me, but sometimes he just went a little overboard. I wasn’t that fragile and needed to toughen up, especially since we were facing an unknown evil.
    That night, I settled into his arms and drifted toward my subconscious mind, hoping we would be able to remember more of our Colonial past. I could feel his presence close by, but found myself emerging in the dream as Hannah, in what appeared to be her bedroom.
    “Hannah, dear, you have a caller in the parlor. Please come down and greet your guest.” I couldn’t believe it. My own mother’s voice called out from downstairs.
    I opened the door to my room and found my way to the stairs, seeing the perfect