The next morning, the bright spring sun shone through the large glass windows of the bedroom. The light touched the soft silk blankets. Marissa slowly opened her eyes. She felt incredibly well-rested. The events of the previous night brought a warm, happy smile to her face. She stretched her arms above her head and rolled over to hug her husband.
But her arms met empty space.
Marissa stopped smiling. She patted the mattress with her hand. The sheets on the other side of the massive four-poster bed were cool to the touch. He had been gone for a while.
She frowned. She sat up in the bed, pulling the thick white quilt up to her chest to cover her bare skin. She looked around the quiet, empty room.
"Where did he go to?" Marissa asked the empty room. Her voice was slightly hoarse from sleep. She wanted to wake up in his arms.
She reached out and picked up a small silver bell sitting on the wooden bedside table. She rang it gently.
