Maggie turned back to her room, telling herself that her mind was playing tricks on her, but a small part of her was almost certain that a light had been on in the East wing when she’d first reached the top of the steps.
Once inside her room she placed the journal on her nightstand, promising herself that she’d return it tomorrow. Right now all she wanted to do was sink into a warm bath and forget about everything else. Maggie slipped off her shoes and removed her jewelry placing it on the dresser. She immediately realized that the old photograph of Ms. Devereaux which she had left on the dresser was missing. She couldn’t remember if she’d seen it there this morning, but she was absolutely certain that she’d placed the picture on the dresser last night and she had not been the one to move it.
Maggie pulled her phone from her purse and called Aaron.
~∞~
“You’re sure you left it here?” Aaron asked a little while later as he stood with Maggie in her bedroom.
“I’m certain,” she insisted. “The picture was sitting right here on top of the dresser and now it’s gone. Plus when I got home tonight I thought I may have seen a light on in the East wing.”
“I didn’t see any light when I came up,” Aaron said reasonably.
“I know. It wasn’t on for long. Maybe it wasn’t on at all. I don’t know.” Maggie began rubbing her temples to alleviate the headache that was coming on.
“You look exhausted,” Aaron said. “Come on. Let’s get you in the tub.”
Maggie didn’t protest as Aaron steered her toward the bathroom. He turned the water on in the bath then turned back to Maggie and began to unbutton her blouse. Her skin pricked with awareness as he slid the shirt down her arms and his fingertips brushed against her skin. He placed a soft kiss on the top of her shoulder as her blouse fell to the floor.
Aaron turned away to check the temperature of the water as Maggie finished undressing. When Aaron turned back she saw the desire flash in his eyes as he saw her standing before him naked.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against him as he placed a kiss on her lips, then he released her.
“How about I go fix up some dinner while you take a bath?” Aaron asked as he stepped toward the door.
“Sure,” Maggie agreed. She was a little disappointed that he wouldn’t be joining her in the bath, but she could also feel the fatigue all the way to her bones and just didn’t have the energy to argue.
“Promise to check on me to make sure I don’t fall asleep in the tub?” Maggie asked as she stepped into the bath and sunk into the warm water.
“Promise.” Aaron winked back at her just before he left the room.
Maggie hadn’t been joking. As her body absorbed the heat from the bath she struggled to keep her eyes open. Finally she leaned her head back and allowed her eyelids to win the battle. She let her arms and legs float in the water, feeling the warmth of the water penetrating through her tired muscles.
Maggie began to drift off into that hazy limbo between dreams and reality. She was semi-aware of the sounds around her but her mind was drifting slowly to sleep. She heard the bedroom door and knew that Aaron was coming to check on her. She waited with her eyes closed expecting to hear him enter the bathroom, but he never came.
Finally she fought off the heaviness of sleep and opened her eyes, looking around the bathroom expecting to find Aaron watching her. But she was alone.
“Aaron?” she called into the bedroom, but no response came.
Maggie pulled herself from the tub, drying off and wrapping herself in a big bath robe. She walked into the bedroom, again expecting to find Aaron waiting for her, but the room was vacant. Maggie wondered if she’d dreamt the sound of someone coming into the room.
She walked over and sat on the bed. All she wanted to do was curl up and fall asleep, but she knew Aaron was downstairs cooking her dinner. She tried to summon the energy to get off the bed and go downstairs. She glanced over to the nightstand and stared a moment, feeling like something was missing. The journal! It was gone. She jumped from the bed and hurried downstairs. She found Aaron in the kitchen stirring something on the stove.
“Did you take a journal off my nightstand?” she demanded. He turned to her, his face a mask of confusion.
“Why would I take your journal?” he asked.
“It wasn’t my journal. I found it at work today and I accidentally brought it home. I put it on my nightstand and now it’s gone. I thought I heard you come into the room while I was in the bath,” Maggie explained. Her hands were trembling.
“Maggie, I’ve been down here the whole time,” Aaron said calmly. “Maybe you put it somewhere else.”
“No, it was on the nightstand,” Maggie insisted.
“Are you sure?” Aaron’s calm tone made Maggie feel ridiculous. Maybe he was right. Perhaps she hadn’t put it there. Her mind was so foggy with exhaustion. Maggie slumped against Aaron’s chest and he wrapped his arms around her comfortingly.