91. IDYLLIC

- - - - - THREE YEARS LATER - - - - - - - - - - AUSTIN, TEXAS - - - - - ~ Violet ~ “Good morning, beautiful girl,” Barbara greeted her daughter with a smile as Violet walked into the kitchen. Her feet and the hem of her dress were gliding on the hardwood floor. Barbara looked up and saw Violet smiling back at her. She was all dressed up and ready to go, wearing her favorite summer dress and a denim jacket. Her hair was cut shorter and curled. She still had the same fair features, but her high cheekbones showed that she had lost some of that baby fat from her teenage years. “Good morning, mom,” Violet replied, taking a seat on the kitchen counter. “What are we having for breakfast?” “We have… bread, cereal, and some leftover cake from your birthday last week,” Barbara said as she pulled out a half-eaten red-velvet cake from the fridge. “Yum, I’ll take a slice,” said Violet. Barbara cut out a piece of cake and served it on a plate for her. Last week was the fourth of July and Violet j