CHAPTER 18Lillith Mackenzie emerged from her car into the glorious mid-autumn Texas sunshine. The sparkling azure skies and wispy, silken clouds promised a day of peace and reconciliation. From the doorway of her apartment house, Veronda rushed to meet her. A few feet away from her mother, she stopped, saying nothing. Then, suddenly, tears gushed forth and the two embraced with a sigh of pure release.
A passing motorist noticed the scene and it lifted his heart.
As a well-known song declared, "trouble seemed so far away." The approaching weekend promised the first slate of truly critical games at both the college and high school levels. And it appeared the weather would cooperate famously. Those feckless few who did not care for football anticipated walks, bike rides and Sunday drives th
