Penny's heart gave a small flutter as she locked eyes with Hank. It had been years since she'd seen him, but the sight of him still felt familiar. His thick gray beard was as bushy as ever, and his weathered face, marked by years of hard work, softened only slightly as he looked at her. Hank's eyes—sharp, yet kind—met hers, and for a brief moment, there was a silence between them, heavy with unspoken memories.

"Well, well," Hank said, his gravelly voice carrying the weight of time. He stood up slowly, as if the effort to rise from the table wasn't worth the trouble, but the slight tilt of his mouth—the softening of his gaze—betrayed the relief he was feeling. "Penny O'Day. You actually showed up."

Penny couldn't help but smile, though it was tinged with the sadness of years that had passed. "I didn't really have much of a choice," she said, her voice softer than she intended, her eyes searching his face for a sign of anything—disappointment, anger, or even resentment—but all she found was warmth.

Hank stepped forward, his large hands reaching out to clasp her shoulders, giving her a firm, but gentle squeeze. "You don't know how good it is to see you, girl," he said, his voice quieter now. His grip lingered, and Penny could feel the sincerity in the way he held her, like he was trying to pull her back into the fold, back into the town that needed her.

She glanced around the bakery, her eyes landing on the familiar sight of the glass display case filled with pastries. It all seemed so... right. So much of this town, these people, had been part of her life before she left for the city, but returning now felt like stepping into a world that she'd abandoned, and yet somehow, it was as if nothing had changed.

"I'm here now," Penny said, her voice low, the weight of it all sinking in as she let herself relax into Hank's steady presence. Despite his gruff exterior, Hank had always been one of the few constants in her life. He had always made her feel seen, even when she had no idea how to navigate the world around her.

"You've got a good head on your shoulders," Hank said, letting his hands fall away from her shoulders, but his eyes didn't stray from hers. "I knew you'd come. You've always been someone who does what's right, even if it takes time to get there."

Penny swallowed hard, her throat tight. She wanted to say something in response, something reassuring or even witty, but the weight of his words were pressing down on her. She hadn't realized how much she missed Hank, how much his simple presence could give her a sense of grounding.

"I'll do what I can," she finally said, her voice a little hoarse. "But I don't know where to start. All I know is that I need to figure out who's behind this and why they're trying to buy up the businesses. There's something... off about it."

Hank nodded, his expression hardening just slightly. "I don't trust it, Penny. And that's why I called you. You're the one who can figure this out, and I'm counting on you to keep Avon from becoming just another part of someone's plan to make a buck."

Lily, who had been quietly watching their exchange, chimed in from behind the counter. "We've been talking, Penny," she said, her tone light but filled with concern. "And we know you're here for the right reasons. But it's not just the businesses, it's the heart of the town. This is home for a lot of us, and it's not something we're willing to just give up."

Penny turned to look at Lily, her heart heavy with the weight of their words. The realization hit her like a wave: this wasn't just about contracts and negotiations. It was about something deeper—the soul of the town, the people, the very essence of what Avon had always been.

"I know," Penny said, a determination settling into her bones. "I'll figure this out. I'll make sure Avon doesn't lose everything it stands for."

She could feel the pressure of their eyes on her, the weight of their hopes resting on her shoulders. She wasn't sure how or where this would lead, but for the first time in a long while, Penny felt like she had a purpose here—one that went beyond the fast-paced world of Boston law. For all her reluctance, Avon was calling her back, and in that moment, she was ready to answer.

After a few moments of quiet, Penny took a deep breath and turned toward the counter, where Hank and Lily were waiting, both their expressions expectant. Penny shifted in her seat, her fingers drumming lightly on the countertop as she prepared to share what she had learned from the previous night's research. The weight of the information she'd uncovered felt heavier now that she was finally able to speak it out loud.

"So, I spent most of the night digging through whatever I could find online about the buyer behind Knudsen's Sportswear," she began, her voice firm. "And I found something." She paused, letting the suspense settle between them. "The company behind the purchase of Knudsen's is called Greely, LLC. It's a shell corporation, which isn't too surprising—people like to hide their identities behind these kinds of companies, but what I found is... troubling."

Hank and Lily leaned in, their attention sharp. Penny glanced at them both, then continued.

"Greely, LLC is linked to a network of other anonymous companies that have been involved in similar buyouts across the state. I found some public filings, but they're all incredibly vague—nothing directly ties them to an actual person. What's more concerning is that these companies don't just focus on small towns like Avon. They're targeting entire blocks of small businesses, quietly buying up properties, and then, when the time's right, they build luxury complexes or tear things down to sell to the highest bidder."

Lily's eyes narrowed, frustration and confusion twisting her expression. "So, it's not just about taking over Avon, then? This is part of something bigger?"

"Exactly," Penny replied, her gaze hardening. "Greely, LLC is just the tip of the iceberg. They've been moving through small towns with the same pattern—buying up the businesses, driving down the property values, and ultimately controlling the land. They're not interested in the businesses themselves; they're interested in the land. And if they can wipe out enough small businesses, they can make the land valuable again, turning it into something profitable—like luxury housing or high-end retail spaces. It's part of a much larger gentrification plan, and Avon is just another casualty."

Hank's expression hardened, his jaw tightening as he absorbed the information. "So, we're just a pawn in some big, corporate game."

"Exactly," Penny said. "And that's why we need to act fast. These companies are very good at what they do—they operate under the radar, moving quietly until they've acquired enough control to flip a neighborhood for massive profit. The scary part is that they don't even care about the people or the businesses they're displacing. They're in it for the money, and that's all."

Lily folded her arms across her chest, her brow furrowing. "This doesn't feel right. I mean, Avon has always been small, but it's been our town. They're not just taking buildings; they're taking the soul of the place."

Penny nodded somberly. "I agree. And what's worse is that I couldn't find any personal details about the people running Greely, LLC. There's no one in charge, at least not that's visible on paper. It's like they don't want to be found, like they're hiding behind these companies to avoid any scrutiny."

"I'm not letting them do that to us," Hank said, his voice low and steady. "We won't let them take our town without a fight."

Penny met Hank's gaze, grateful for his unwavering resolve. "I'm with you," she said, her voice hardening with determination. "I'll contact the remaining business owners and see if we can organize a response. If I can get enough support, we can challenge Greely, LLC, and find a way to stop their plans before they get any further."

Lily leaned forward, her eyes glinting with determination. "I'll spread the word, get more people on board. Avon's got heart. We'll show them they can't just waltz in here and do whatever they want."

"Good," Penny said, her mind already racing with the next steps. "But we need to be strategic. If we can uncover more about Greely's operations, we'll have something to fight back with. We can expose them for what they really are: opportunists looking to profit from a town's decline."

Hank nodded slowly, his eyes hard with resolve. "We'll do whatever it takes."

Penny looked between them, feeling a quiet surge of hope. She hadn't realized how much she had missed this—the sense of community, the feeling that together, they could face down whatever threat came their way. This was her town, and she wouldn't let it slip through her fingers without a fight. The process was personal and for the first time a fire that had long been extinguished in Boston reignited.

"We'll start with the basics," Penny said, her voice steady. "First, I'll gather more info about Greely, LLC. We need to find out who's behind this and what their ultimate goal is. Then, we'll put the pressure on. If we work together, we can protect Avon."