The Songbird / Volume Five (Volume 5)

***** About The Cover ***** The grandfather watched as both Peter and Steve sat on the bed comfortably with Jeneil. They were all very close and it could be seen easily. He didn't sense any undercurrent that he thought would be present if there was any hint of deception among them. He saw the difference. They liked each other. They trusted each other. Theirs was a different relationship, even odd or strange, but it was definitely not immoral. He knew Jeneil and she wasn't capable of cunning deception. He would risk his life on that. He smiled to himself. The three were actually very refreshing to watch. Their trust, their love, made a person relax just being around them. They seemed to understand the relationship and it worked for them. He marveled at how difficult a relationship of this type would be to achieve just by the very nature of their closeness, but they had achieved a healthy balance and he felt the credit belonged to all three. They understood friendship and love and were keeping both separate. They were strong energies but again his concern was Jeneil. Of the three, she was the most fragile. She was also the most open and innocent. That made her the most vulnerable. As he watched, he knew even the slightest change in that balance would ultimately change the relationship, and he knew the relationship as it existed now could not last. It was like a person's childhood; it would pass. That's exactly what these three were involved in at the moment. A relationship as innocent as a childhood. They were a triad, three closely related things. He wondered who would be most affected by the eventual change. In studying them, it was difficult to tell. They were so closely related... Jeneil voice broke through his thoughts. *****ONE***** Steve waited in the den for Jeneil. He paced and glanced at his watch nervously, they had only minutes left to salvage their ruined schedule and get to the Sprague's. Mrs. Sprague was a precision hostess if she said dinner at seven, she meant seven. Jeneil rushed in fixing the lower part of her dress. Steve gave a low whistle and she smiled. "Do my necklace please." she said, handing the green stone to him in the palm of her hand and turning as he took it from her. "This looks nice." He comented noticing that the feel of the gold was quality. "What's the stone?" He asked as he went to secure the gold loops. "An emerald." She answered matter-of-factly and caught the necklace as it slipped from Steve's hands. She turned her head. "Is the clasp too fragile for you?" He laughed slightly. "No I've just never been this close to the real thing before. It stunned me." She smiled. "The necklace was Mandra's. She had exquisite taste and a generous nature. She left some beautiful pieces to me." The necklace looked real and expensive against her skin and her outfit. Steve shook his head not believing that the woman before him was his wife. "You look incredible" He smiled. She smiled in return. "I think we should be going." "Right," He answered, "Mrs. Sprague usually has even digestion timed and our day has played havoc with our schedule." THe drive to the Sprague's was completed in less time than Steve had anticipated since the traffic was light. Gathering the gifts from the truck of the SX7, he joined Jeneil who waited for him, wrapped in a sable jacket that had set him back when he had seen her in it. She had simply explained that her conscience wouldn't let her waste what Mandra had left her. Pride filled him as they walked to the front door together. This was a different kind of Christmas at the Sprague's. Now he could afford some decent gifts and he arrived in an SX7 with a beautiful and stylish wife on his arm. The Spragues's daughter Amanda answered the door and smiled politely. "Steve, Jeneil, Merry Christmas." She said automatically. "Come In." "I'm sorry we're very late." Steve said, noticing Amanda's serious expression...