As Emily drifted off to sleep, Liam and Alexandra sat on the couch, savoring the warmth of the evening. They reminisced about their day, sharing smiles and laughter.
Liam gazed at Alexandra. "You're an amazing mom."
Alexandra's eyes sparkled. "You're an amazing dad."
Their conversation flowed softly, like the evening breeze.
Suddenly, Alexandra's thoughts turned serious. "Liam, have you noticed anything strange lately?"
Liam's expression turned curious. "Strange? Like what?"
Alexandra hesitated, unsure how to articulate her concerns.
Liam's eyes locked onto Alexandra's, searching for clues. "What kind of strange?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.
Alexandra sighed, collecting her thoughts. "Just little things. Like Emily's favorite toy was moved, or a book was reshelved incorrectly."
Liam's brow furrowed. "Maybe Emily's just getting more curious?"
Alexandra nodded, but her expression remained thoughtful.
As they sat in comfortable silence, the house grew quieter, except for the soft ticking of the clock.
Suddenly, a faint creak echoed from upstairs.
Liam's ears perked up. "Did you hear that?" he whispered.
Alexandra nodded, her eyes locked on the ceiling. "It sounds like it's coming from Emily's room."
Liam's instincts kicked in. He rose from the couch, motioning for Alexandra to follow.
They crept upstairs, their footsteps soft on the carpet. Outside Emily's room, they paused, listening.
The creaking stopped. Silence.
Liam slowly opened the door, peeking inside. Emily slept peacefully, surrounded by her toys.
But something caught Liam's attention...
Liam's gaze scanned the room, and his eyes landed on Emily's dresser. The drawers were slightly ajar, and her favorite stuffed animal, Mr. Whiskers, was perched on the edge, as if watching over her.
Alexandra whispered, "I could've sworn I closed the drawers."
Liam's brow furrowed. "Maybe Emily was playing and didn't close them properly?"
But as they watched, the drawers creaked softly, as if someone – or something – was gently pushing them shut.
Liam and Alexandra exchanged a curious glance.