Perhaps it was the overwhelming welcome from the townspeople, or maybe it was the unexpected rush of emotions that flooded her when she saw Chris, but Penny couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place. Grateful for the excuse to step away from the warmth of the café, she found herself pulling open the door and stepping back into the crisp November air of Main Street.

The cold hit her with a refreshing bite, grounding her and clearing her mind, if only for a moment. The familiar town felt both comforting and suffocating all at once. She glanced around, letting her eyes cling to the buildings she had known for so long. The small brick structures of Main Street stood as they always had, timeless in their simplicity. The corner shop, the post office, the tiny diner with its neon sign flashing in the early morning light—all of them were familiar, yet foreign now, as if time had moved forward while she had stayed suspended in some other life.

Penny walked slowly, her steps taking her just a half block to the local inn, The Maple Bed and Breakfast. The building was old, with a wide porch wrapped in ivy and rocking chairs lined up along the front. The warm glow of light spilling from the windows promised the kind of comfort only a small-town inn could provide. She had stayed there countless times as a child, visiting family or attending one of the town's many seasonal events. The memories were faint but still present, lingering like ghosts she wasn't quite ready to face.

As she passed the high school on her left, Penny's heart tightened in her chest. The building looked exactly as it had the day she left, the same brick exterior, the same large windows reflecting the early morning light. It was the heart of the town—the place where her life in Avon had started, where her story with Chris had begun.

Her eyes moved instinctively toward the town square, and there, as always, stood the gazebo. It was slightly weathered, but still as charming as ever, its white posts wrapped in a tangle of ivy and fall-colored leaves. She could almost hear the sounds of laughter, of music playing during the autumn festivals, and the chatter of friends hanging out after school. She had spent countless hours there with Chris, walking hand in hand, sharing stories and dreams that now felt like they belonged to someone else.

The memories hit her all at once—too sharp, too real. She could see Chris standing next to her in that very gazebo, his hand brushing against hers, their words falling into the quiet of the evening. She could hear the warmth in his voice, feel the way his eyes had always been so steady, so certain. The pull of those memories was magnetic, drawing her back to a time when everything had seemed so simple, so full of promise.

But that was before she left. Before she chose a different life, a different future. And as much as she longed for those moments, as much as she wished she could go back and hold onto them, Penny knew she couldn't. She had moved on, as had Chris, even if it didn't feel that way at the moment.

She shook her head slightly, pushing the memories away. There was no use in dwelling on the past, not now. There were things to do, a town to save, and decisions to make. But as she turned to continue her walk to The Maple Bed and Breakfast, she couldn't help but wonder: could Avon ever be the same for her? Could she step back into the life she had left behind, or had too much time passed for her to truly come home?

As Penny reached The Maple Bed and Breakfast, she paused for a moment, taking in the quaint exterior. The inn had been a staple of Avon for as long as she could remember—its Victorian charm and rustic appeal never seemed to change, even as time swept past it. The front door creaked slightly as she pushed it open, and immediately, she was greeted by the familiar hum of voices and the soft, cozy atmosphere of the foyer.

Mr. and Mrs. Northway were chatting away in the corner, as they always had. Mrs. Northway, her wild, curly hair a bit grayer than Penny remembered, was laughing at something her husband had said. Mr. Northway, his wiry frame still spry despite his silver hair, was nodding along, his glasses perched on the tip of his nose as he waved a hand through the air, clearly in the midst of a story. Penny smiled faintly at the sight of them. It was like they had been frozen in time, unchanged by the years that had passed.

When Penny was younger, she had always thought of the Northways as old—especially Mr. Northway, with his gentle stoop and slow, deliberate movements. Now, standing in their foyer, she realized they were most likely only in their 50s when she was a child. Still, they had always seemed ageless to her, timeless figures who kept the inn running with a steady, quiet warmth. And even now, years later, there was a sense of youth in them—a liveliness. Their presence, despite the years, still carried a kind of energy that she had never quite replicated in her own life.

As Penny closed the door behind her, the cold air of November shut out, and the warmth of the inn enveloped her, both comforting and strange. The delicious scent of fresh pumpkin rolls, their spicy sweetness filling the air, instantly filled her nose. The very smell embraced her, a reminder of countless mornings spent in this very foyer, waiting for the Northways to finish their preparations for the day. The same cozy feel, the same welcoming atmosphere. Nothing here had changed.

"Penny O'Day!" Mrs. Northway's voice rang out with more enthusiasm than Penny had expected, given the circumstances. Mrs. Northway hurried toward her, arms open wide, her grin bright as ever. "Well, if it isn't the city lawyer herself! You've certainly grown into a fine woman, dear. And look at you, all businesslike—just like your father always said you would be."

Penny chuckled softly, grateful for the warmth in Mrs. Northway's words, even if they stung a little. "It's good to see you, too, Mrs. Northway," Penny said, returning the embrace. It felt so natural, so easy, as if no time had passed at all. The Northways had always treated her like family, like one of their own children, even when she was just a little girl.

"The town's been buzzing about your return." Mr. Northway chimed in from the corner, pushing himself to his feet with surprising agility. "How long can you stay?"

"Not very long; just through the holiday" Penny said, her voice faltering just a bit. She hadn't come back on her own terms, after all. But the warmth of the Northways' welcome made her feel a little lighter, even though a part of her resented the idea of fitting back into a town she had left behind.

"Not to worry," Mrs. Northway said, with an unmistakable twinkle in her eye. "That will be plenty of time to catch up, dear. And I've got a room all set for you." She nodded toward the staircase leading up to the guest rooms. "You're staying with us, of course. Where else would you go?"

Penny didn't have an answer to that, and honestly, she didn't know if she wanted one. The truth was, she was relieved to be here, even if just for a few days. She knew she needed to focus on the reason she was back, but right now, in this moment, the hospitality and familiarity of The Maple Bed and Breakfast wrapped around her like a blanket she hadn't known she'd missed.

"Thank you," Penny said softly, smiling at both of them. "I appreciate it. I really do."

The Northways beamed, their eyes lighting up with the simple joy of seeing a familiar face, and for a moment, Penny felt the weight of the city and all the decisions she'd made slip away. Here, in Avon, with the warmth of the inn and the pumpkin rolls baking in the background, there was a strange sense of peace. It was fleeting, but for now, it was enough.