The next day was far from restful.
Damon found himself busy from the moment the sun cracked over the neighborhood roofs.
Ava's official birthday celebration was finally here, the one where friends, and family were coming over.
Everyone was invited. While it was about Ava, it was also about gathering and just celebrating as a family.
The backyard needed work, so did the kitchen. Damon had started with the grill, first by buying one.
After a bit of back-and-forth over models and burners with Svetlana, they settled on something big, sturdy, and built to handle the kind of meat-heavy menu Damon envisioned.
He'd also gone shopping with her earlier that morning, grabbing not just party food, but something more long-term.
The bags that hit the counter included lean proteins, clean carbs, mass gain mixes, and nutrient-rich snacks.
