Standing at the stove, carefully stirring a large pot, was Penny. No longer the scared little girl, but a woman in her late twenties, confident and composed. Her chestnut hair was tied back in a neat bun, and she wore a simple but elegant blouse and skirt under an apron. Despite the years and the changes, Victor could still see traces of the child he once knew in her warm brown eyes and the slight crook in her nose - a remnant of their harsh life on the streets.
Victor cleared his throat softly, not wanting to startle her. "Good afternoon, Ms Penny. This is quite a surprise."
Penny turned at the sound of his voice, her eyes widening in recognition. A bright smile spread across her face, genuine but tinged with the respectful distance that now existed between them. "Mr. Mallory! You're awake! I hope you don't mind, but Mrs. Fairfax said I could use the kitchen to prepare lunch for everyone."
