dominic da silva

JJ quirked his eyebrow as Dominic got slightly defensive over his decision to buy his bread, letting out a soft laugh. "Fair enough... At least you're going for the freshly-baked option rather than the one with preservatives." He had to give him that. "Okay, okay... I'll get her something she'll like. Besides, I really don't mind it if the kids start expecting it. They're going to have to find out that their Uncle JJ is rich at some point." He let out a laugh, shaking his head. As much as he hated the fact that his mother's side of the family had left him a trust fund, and although he refused to use any of it for himself, he did not mind dipping into it every now and then to spoil the kids.

"Thank you..." was Dom's response, more soft laughter escaping him as they moved around the stalls. He could always cook everything, as much as he wished that he could —- if he wanted to do that, he'd have to hand over a little more responsibility to his sous chef instead and leave the restaurant more often. He shook his head very slightly, reaching out for something on the stall in front of them, examining it a moment. "Truthfully, I think they'll already getting used to that kind of lifestyle..." He'd certainly been making a lot more money since he'd started opening restaurants, especially back in Boston.

"I don't think we ever really stop growing. Or maybe not until we're super old, then we can be wise and fully grown," he commented. "That's the price of being the boss," Trey admitted, taking a sip of his water. "That's why I never want to open my own vet practice, I don't have to be the boss."

Dom tilted his head a moment in thought. "No, I don't think we do," he answered. "At least, in some kind of way. You're always taking in information, aren't you? So your knowledge is growing, your brain is." He paused and chuckled a moment. "Well, at least, for most people it is. Some I do wonder about." Trey's words made him smile, and he nodded in response. "Yeah, kind of don't blame you there," he responded.

Happy memories, a pizza business making good money, Dominic wasn't wrong about everyone making out pretty well -- seemed like it was a good idea all the way around, really. "Me too. I've gone to the beach every summer, since that's when we came home," family vacations in Merrock had always been the one thing that she looked forward to, no matter what else was going on in her life. "But I guess we can both set that as our summer goals. Visiting all the places in Merrock we haven't been to in a long time." After a beat, she smiled thoughtfully, "do you have any other suggestions in town for places you would tell someone new to go to? I'm not new, obviously," she laughed, shrugging both shoulders, "but places feel new sometimes."

Dominic let a breath go very slowly, and then shook his head. "I think it's about time I made more of an effort," he admitted. "This has been my home on and off for so long, and I don't really feel I'm making the most of it since I returned." Summer would be the perfect opportunity to do that, though. "I'm going to do that. I need to do that I think," he told her with a nod of his head. "Uh, that's a good question... I don't know really. The Great Escape's always fun for something different, and I do love the gallery on the coast."

She shouldn't have struggled as much to win the bear as she did, but she was never the best with carnival games. She had always had more fun getting to stand back and cheer for others unless it was a competition game. "Very successful." She agreed and returned the smile. She nodded at the attendant and turned her full attention back to Dom. "Oh, that was smooth." She laughed and nodded. "Yeah, it would be nice to get some real food. I feel like all I've had is sweets today." It would be something she might regret in the morning, but she was going to enjoy her day today. "Anything you're in the mood for, or we could get a little of everything?"

Dominic had to roll his eyes very playfully at her words, even though that had kind of been his intention. He never really pretended to be anything he wasn't, and that had been the same since he was small. "Thank you..." he said with a gentle laugh, "I try." As she told him her thoughts, though, he nodded in agreement. "Real food sounds like a plan," he answered. "There's way too much sugar around here, but I'm sure we can try and find something vaguely good for us, or just... yeah, pick at everything." Once he'd thanked the stallholder, he turned on his heel, gesturing for Alli to lead the way to the food carts. As they walked, he cast a glance back over to her, chewing idly on his lower lip for a moment. "I take it you heard about the Big Kid Prom that's being planned?"

"I feel like I should record this so I can remind you when you're questioning why I'm calling at three am." She smiled at him and then playfully shook her head. Hopefully she had many years before she had to worry about that. "It might have been one of the reasons I said no to that room when we first moved in." She had thought she might use the room for a second child when the time came, but it was just her and Finley now. "Some of my favorite ones." She nodded and sighed. Things h ad been simpler back then.

"You might have to, I have never once claimed to have a good memory in recent years," was Dominic's easy reply, a small smile working its way over his features. "That makes sense," he assured her, nodding his head as she continued on. "So far it definitely has." Admittedly, the whole family moving across the country still felt a little weird to him, but he understood the thought behind it: keeping the kids close to both of their parents. It made no sense whatsoever to overcomplicate things unless it was necessary. "Okay, well, so long as it's not just me thinking that way," he answered with a nod. "Fine, fine, maybe you are right." He let a breath go slowly. "Better than being a hardass. No one wants that." "Horses. I dread the thought of that," he mused, casting a glance toward the dogs, and then to his watch. "I am so sorry, but I'm going to have to head off. My mom's stopping in at the restaurant tonight and I promised I'd be there." He jangled the leash in his hand to get the dog's attention. "But I have your number now, so..." A pause and he smiled, directly at her this time. "I'll be in touch."

"Good to know." JJ nodded, laughing softly as he followed his friend away from the stall with the fresh produce. "Yeah, when you say it like that, I can understand why it might be too much. Fine, I'll just get her a few books. I definitely wouldn't want to show you up, and Candice told me that her brother is also planning on spoiling Cat for her birthday. Between him and your sisters, I think it's only fair that I back off. I'll make up for it during Christmas, though." He let out another laugh as they reached the stall with some freshly baked bread. "You know, I would have thought that you were the kind of guy who baked his own bread, Dom."

"Wait, wait, wait. Let's get things straight here. I am the kind of guy who bakes his own bread," said Dominic quite sternly. "I just don't have time all the time. But when I can't, I opt for something baked by someone else, not the kind of crap you can buy in a grocery store, at least." Laughter followed after he'd clarified that, and he shook his head. "Honestly, man, I don't care what you get her. It's your money, it's your choice." He shrugged. "She's going to start expecting it, though, which probably isn't a good idea," he added.

"Okay, so you've never had a loaded baked potato -- hear me out!" she held up her hands before he could try to argue, "that's loaded up with a meat, to boot? Like, you know, a baked potato covered in pork barbecue and all of the good stuff? Does that count as a full meal?" It had all of the basic foods you would have on a plate, but... mixed together. Elena wasn't sure how well food math worked, but she tried, anyway. "Okay, valid," she laughed, nodding her head, "so you're a ski bunny, then. Or ski... what do they call that but the boy form?" Ski hare? Ski Jackrabbit? Probably just a skiier, actually. "Flannels lets you branch out, at least. You could also be a lumberjack!"

"That's not potato chips," Dom said with a pointedly raised brow, although there was an easygoing smile on his face. "Those are two very different things. Of course I class a loaded potato as a meal, depending on what you choose to have on it." A pretty good meal, too, there was plenty you could do with it. "I'm not sure I'm that either," he laughed. "Kind of too young to be classed as anything like that. But skiing is certainly my preference." A snort of laughter escaped him. "Could you see me as a lumberjack?"

Closed Starter for: @dominicdasilva

Dom was sat over in the corner when Candice came over to him, sort of observing everything going on, pleased that things were working out so well. He glanced up at her arrival, a bright smile immediately crossing his features. "You don't have to thank me," he responded. "She's my daughter, of course I would. The other guys, however." He cast a look back toward the restaurant and laughed softly. At her question about the sandwiches, his eyes narrowed and he shook his head. "Can't tell you that," he mused. "Trade secret."

"I wish you all the luck." Mackenzie hummed, the smile playing on her lips. She couldn't imagine how it would be attempting to parent teenagers. "I guess we're both in the same boat then. I'm not going to lie though, the smell of those cooking donut holes are calling me." They were a good snack for eating while exploring. "My shout." She offered with a smile.

"Well, thank you," Dominic mused with a light laugh and shake of his head. He'd deal with it when he got there, there wasn't much use in worrying about it at all. At her words, he nodded, taking a brief sniff of the air and catching the scent she'd mentioned. "Don't they always," he said with a smile. "But that would be amazing, thanks."

Oliver laughed softly. "That is absolutely fair. Who can say no to a good snack or two, really?" he asked with a smile. "Especially with this phenomenal weather we're having!" he nodded. "You as well. Got any big plans for summer? I'm sure the restaurant gets even more busy with everyone off school and getting a bunch of out of town visitors, huh?"

"Pretty sure that no one can," said Dominic with a chuckle. "Snacks make the world go 'round... or something like that. An army marches on its stomach." And when it came to his kids, they most definitely did, but that was mainly because they'd been brought up by him. Food was number one in his house. "Yeah, summer's usually crazy busy. But I'm going to try and take some time for myself away from there. I need to get better at that. You got plans?"

"It's not about being bad or good, it's about the fact that you're still growing. Coming into what it means to be a human," he explained. Sometimes he still felt that way, and he was in his forties. "No, I fear not. That's all on you, chef."

"Makes sense," Dom said, nodding his head in agreement to Trey's words. "Truthfully I still feel as though I'm growing. Coming back her was certainly an experience. A good one, sure, but an experience." He laughed, shaking his head for a moment. "Guess I usually am the one who needs to shoulder the burden."

"I feel like those would be the happiest memories you'd take away from the whole experience," she was sure that a wedding was a lot of fun, no doubt, but it was even better to make personal memories that reminded you of the people that you loved the most as they celebrated you on your most special day. "Yeah, that's incredibly true! Everyone would want to check out the pizza wedding venue, see if they can do the same thing… or maybe just try the pizza, we all know it's really good," that was one thing that hadn't changed since she was younger -- the pizza was always hot and fresh. "Maybe they're coming from the lake? Or one of the swimming holes! I remember spending some hot summer afternoons there."

Dominic chuckled softly and nodded his head. He knew how it was with businesses, wanting to get what they could offer out there, especially plastered all over social media. He did what he could with Overlook, although he mostly left it to his younger staff; the servers enjoyed taking over the social media presence for the restaurant. "Defnitiely, definitely," he responded. "Works out well for everyone really." Very well in fact. "Probably, yeah..." He nodded. "I guess I haven't thought about it much. Been so long since I've been out there myself."

"I take it you're not a big fan of carnival food?" Erin asked the other with a raised eyebrow. "I mean, I can understand why. If I were a chef, I would probably find most of the food here sickly as well, especially the stuff that's deep-fried. Although I do have to admit that I love the hot sausage and chicken cheesesteaks here. They're actually quite good, very filling, perfect to eat if you're planning to get drunk for the Fourth of July." She shrugged. "And how are they doing? Are they having fun? Have you managed to win them a lot of prizes?"

"Sort of ingrained into me," Dominic admitted, still not entirely sure whether it was a good thing or not. The kids thought not of course, when they were hanging out with him at things like this. But whatever it was, he knew he could make it better and slightly healthier at home —- he preferred it that way. "Sausages are supreme," he chuckled. "I'll never say no to a hotdog in any form." They were a bit of a weakness for him really. A snort of laughter escaped him at her words and he shook his head. "So is that your plan?" It sounded that way. "They are and a few, we're not doing too badly so far tonight."