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."
Victor stepped further into the kitchen, his heart heavy with the weight of their shared history - a history that Penny no longer remembered. "Not at all, ms Penny. It's wonderful to see you here. I didn't realize you had become such an accomplished cook."
Penny's cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment. "Oh, it's just a hobby really. Teaching is my true passion, but I love to cook when I have the time. Especially when I can do it here at the Haven."
Victor moved closer to the stove, peering into the pot. The rich aroma of vegetables and herbs filled his nostrils, reminding him of the meagre meals they once shared on the streets, and how they had dreamed of having enough food to feed all the hungry children around them.
"It smells delicious," Victor said, pushing aside the bittersweet memories. "What are you making?"
"It's vegetable soup," Penny explained, stirring the pot with practised ease. "I try to use whatever is in season. Today we have carrots, potatoes, celery, and some spinach from the Haven's garden. And plenty of herbs, of course."
Victor nodded, impressed. "That sounds wonderful. I'm looking forward to trying it. Do you think there might be a bowl ready now? I seem to have missed breakfast."
Penny laughed, a sound that transported Victor back to happier moments from their childhood. "You did sleep for quite a while, Mr. Mallory. Everyone's been talking about it." She reached for a ladle and a bowl. "Of course, you can have some now. I'd love your opinion."
"Thank you, Penny," Victor said softly as she handed him the bowl. "This means more to me than you know."
Penny smiled, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "I'm glad to do it, Mr. Mallory. The Haven has done so much for me and for so many others. I only wish I could do more to repay your kindness."
Victor's heart ached at her words. If only she knew how much she had already given him, simply by surviving and thriving. "Your work as a teacher is more than enough, Penny. The impact you have on your students' lives is immeasurable."
Penny beamed with pride. "Thank you, Mr. Mallory. Teaching is truly my passion. Even on my days off, I can't help but come here to work with the children at the Haven. There's something special about this place."
As Victor took his first spoonful of the soup, he was transported back to their childhood dreams of having enough food to share. The flavours were rich and comforting, a far cry from the watery gruel they once subsisted on.
"This is excellent, Penny," he said, taking another spoonful. "You've really mastered the art of cooking."
Penny's face lit up at the praise. "I'm so glad you like it! Cooking for the children here always brings back fond memories. Not that I remember much from my childhood, but I have this feeling of warmth and family when I'm in the kitchen."
Victor nodded, careful not to let his emotions show on his face. "The kitchen is often the heart of a home. It's wonderful that you can create that feeling for the children here."
As they continued to talk, the kitchen began to fill with staff members and children, all drawn by the delicious smell of Penny's soup. Victor watched with pride as Penny confidently directed the lunch preparations, interacting with the children with the practised ease of an experienced teacher.
Mrs. Fairfax entered the kitchen, her eyebrows rising in surprise as she saw Victor. "Well, Mr. Mallory, I see you've found your way to the kitchen. And just in time for Penny's special soup, I might add."
Victor smiled warmly at the older woman. "Indeed I have, Mrs. Fairfax. And I must say, you've done an excellent job teaching Penny. The soup is delicious."
Mrs. Fairfax beamed with pride. "Oh, Penny's a natural in the kitchen. She has a real gift for it, just like she does for teaching. Speaking of which," she turned to Penny, "don't forget you have your math lesson with the younger children after lunch, dear."
Penny nodded eagerly. "I won't forget, Mrs. Fairfax. I've got some fun activities planned to help them understand fractions better."
Victor savoured another spoonful of the hearty soup, its rich flavours a stark contrast to the meagre meals of their shared past. As he ate, Penny and Mrs. Fairfax continued their conversation nearby, their voices carrying over the gentle bustle of the kitchen.
"Mrs. Fairfax," Penny said, her tone thoughtful, "I've been thinking. It's been so long since we all got together - the earliest batch of us from the Haven, I mean."
Mrs. Fairfax looked up from the salad she was preparing, her interest piqued. "Oh? What did you have in mind, dear?"
Penny's eyes lit up with excitement. "Well, I was thinking we should have a proper reunion. You know, Lisa, William, and I met occasionally but It's been years since we were all in the same room together with others being so busy.
Victor's spoon paused halfway to his mouth, his attention caught by Penny's words. The names she mentioned stirred a whirlpool of memories - faces of children he once knew, now grown into adults with lives of their own.
Mrs Fairfax nodded enthusiastically. "That's a wonderful idea, Penny! It would be lovely to see how everyone's doing. You've all come so far."
Penny smiled, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. "We have, haven't we? Sometimes it's hard to believe how much has changed.
Victor set down his spoon, drawn into the conversation despite himself. "It sounds like everyone has found their path," he said, careful to keep his tone neutral, hiding the surge of emotions her words evoked.
Penny turned to him, her eyes bright. "Oh, yes, Mr. Mallory! And it's all thanks to you and the Haven. Without the opportunities you provided, who knows where we might have ended up?"
Victor swallowed hard, fighting back the urge to tell her that she had always been destined for greatness, that he had seen it in her even when they were both hungry, scared children on the streets. Instead, he simply nodded. "The Haven merely provided the tools. Your successes are your own."
Mrs. Fairfax chimed in, "Still, a reunion would be a wonderful way to celebrate those successes. And to remind everyone of where they came from." She paused, looking thoughtful. "We could host it here at the Haven. Show the current children what's possible with hard work and determination."
Penny clapped her hands together, her excitement palpable. "Oh, that's perfect! We could make it a sort of mentorship event too. The current Haven kids could meet and talk with us 'graduates'. What do you think, Mr. Mallory?"
Victor found himself nodding, caught up in Penny's enthusiasm despite the bittersweet ache in his chest. "I think it's an excellent idea. Seeing tangible examples of success could be very motivating for the children here now."
"Wonderful!" Penny exclaimed. "I'll start reaching out to everyone right away. Oh, this is going to be amazing. Just like old times, but... better."
As Penny and Mrs. Fairfax continued to excitedly plan the reunion, Victor returned to his soup, his mind whirling. The prospect of seeing all those familiar faces, now grown and changed, filled him with a complex mix of emotions. Pride, certainly, at what they had all achieved. But also a deep, aching sadness for the shared history that only he remembered.
The reunion would be a celebration of all they had overcome, all they had achieved - even if he alone carried the full weight of their shared past.
Victor finished his soup, the warm, comforting flavours a reminder of how far they had all come. As he listened to Penny and Mrs. Fairfax's animated planning, he allowed himself a small, secret smile. Whatever challenges the reunion might bring, it would be worth it to see the fruits of their collective journey. And perhaps, in some small way, it would bridge the gap between his memories and the present, bringing him closer to the family he had once known and never forgotten.