I'm going to go ahead and say it- looking at this chapter now, I wish it didn't exist. Blegh, if I had time to write a different one I would, because it's crap. But I have to write a poem for workshop (ugh, don't ask) tomorrow morning so there's no time to replace this crap. I mean I really won't even be offended if you don't read it. This may just be me overreacting... I guess we'll see. :P

This chapter title comes from- where else? "The Gambler" by Fun. I just can't quit you, baby.

and just like him she never stops, never takes the day for granted

June comes to Rosewood and brings an early summer heat with it. The summer months always promise booming business for Toby and to say he has been busy would be putting it lightly. All across town, he's been constructing gazebos, screening in back porches and drawing up designs for outdoor entertainment centers; work that will likely set him back a few months, but will certainly provide him with a tidy profit. Next on his list, however, are Wren and Melissa, who'd wanted a small guesthouse in their backyard for their extended, out of the country family. Toby isn't looking forward to working for them, though; working for family is just asking for trouble.

To top it all off, Grace is with him today. He's never brought her to work with him before; he doesn't have the type of job that's conducive to that activity. But she's insistent upon coming with and since he figures she can likely just play inside her aunt and uncle's house, Toby reluctantly agrees. She is old enough to be self-sufficient to a point and he certainly doesn't plan on letting her anywhere near the power tools. Spencer's more reluctant than he is, preaching that their daughter on a construction site is far too dangerous of a situation. There's not much either of them can do about it, though; they've both got to work and Grace has nowhere else to go.

"Are we at your work now?" Grace asks when Toby stops the car. "This is Aunt Melissa's house."

"I know," Toby smiles, unloading her from her car seat. "Remember how I told you I'm building something for Aunt Melissa? I've got a lot of work to do today."

"And I'm gonna play with Vivian?"

"You're going to play with Vivian, yeah," Toby confirms. "She's probably waiting for you already."

Toby unloads an armful of tools from the truck and slips his free hand into Grace's hand. Most of his coworkers are already here; he can tell Davis got here early from the Aerosmith blasting from the backyard. Shaking his head, he begins to lead Grace to the front door when Hayes interrupts. "Yo, Cavanaugh! Daycare's down the street!"

Toby laughs. "Yeah, well. This is my sister-in-law's house, so…"

Hayes smirks and bends down a bit, grinning at the little girl. "Hi sweetheart. What's your name?"

"Grace Marion Cavanaugh," She recites proudly and Toby chuckles a bit. "What's yours?"

"My name is Graham Hayes," He introduces, shaking her tiny hand. "It's very nice to meet you. Your daddy talks about you a lot."

"Graham?" Grace repeats. "Like the cracker?"

"Grace," Toby shakes his head, scolding, but Hayes only laughs along.

"No, man, she's right," He nods. "Just like the cracker, Grace Face."

She giggles. "Hey, that rhymes!"

Melissa opens the front door, then, Vivian right behind her. "Grace! Come on in, honey. Let's let daddy get to work!"

"I'm gonna go play with Vivian now," Grace announces and side-hugs her father. "Bye daddy. Bye Graham Cracker."

Hayes grins. "See ya, Grace Face."

Toby just shakes his head, a smile on his face, and starts towards the backyard. Hayes calls out, "Oh, whatever you do, steer clear of Johnson. He's in a shitty mood."

"Isn't he always?" Toby comments and Hayes snorts, agreeing.

Toby's on roof duty today, climbing up the ladder and beginning to attach the shingles to the structure they'd crafted for the Kingstons. It's still a weird thing for him to consider; Melissa and Wren seem perfect for each other, but Toby's not blind. He still catches the way Wren's gaze lingers too long on Spencer sometimes and to this day, Wren still calls him 'the carpenter,' as though Toby's defined by his profession. Melissa he'd grown somewhat fond of and he knew that in marrying Spencer he'd be marrying her family too. Wren, however, he couldn't have expected. Wren he really could do without.

He calls Spencer on his lunch break as he always does and assures her Grace is fine. He honestly hasn't seen much of his daughter; he imagines Vivian is keeping her busy with all the latest and greatest toys her parents spoil her with. Anytime Grace hangs out with Vivian, she comes home exhausted from sensory overload. Toby knows everyone has their own parenting style, but he truly doesn't see the benefit in buying a child everything they want. He shakes his head clear of these thoughts once his break is over and heads back to his shingle work. He's working the roof with Hayes, who's nodding along to "Walk This Way," courtesy of the stereo below them. He hasn't seen surly Johnson yet, but he's sure his coworker has given himself the easiest job of the day as he always does.

A little while later, the sliding glass back door opens and Vivian and Grace tumble into the backyard. Melissa's not too far behind, a pitcher of lemonade and a sleeve of plastic cups in hand, advising them not to stray too far. Vivian makes a beeline for the tire swing and demands Grace join her, but Grace instead approaches a man exiting the soon-to-be guesthouse- a man named Johnson. "Hi. Do you work with my daddy?"

Johnson asks, "Which one's your daddy?"

"That one," Grace points at the roof. "In the black shirt."

"Oh Cavanaugh," Johnson clarifies. "Yeah, I work with him. Why?"

"Why aren't you on the roof?" Grace wonders and Johnson frowns.

"Because it's dangerous," He explains. "I've got stuff to do inside."

"But my daddy's on the roof," Grace prods. "What if he gets hurt?"

"He won't."

"But what if he does?" Grace insists and Johnson grows impatient.

"Look kid, it's not safe for you to be here," Johnson retorts. "Run along and play."

Grace crosses her arms, adamant. "Not until you get my daddy off the roof."

Melissa comes over and asks, "Gracie, what's going on?"

"It's dangerous," She tells her aunt. "I want daddy off the roof."

Johnson sighs. "The shingle work is almost done, kid."

Melissa probes, "Will you just humor her?"

"But he's almost done!"

"Then you finish," Melissa insists. "Please."

Johnson scrubs an irritated hand over his face and turns to shout, "Cavanaugh! Hayes! You're off roof duty. We're swapping."

When Toby climbs down the ladder, he's immediately alarmed and asks Melissa, "What's going on?"

Melissa shrugs, nodding towards Grace. "Don't ask me."

"Grace," Toby wonders. "Is everything okay?"

"No," Grace shakes her head. "He's mean."

"Did he say something to you?"

"No," She repeats. "He wanted you on the roof 'cause it's dangerous. He's mean. He needs a time-out."

Toby stares at her a moment and then chuckles. "A time-out?"

"Yeah," Grace nods matter-of-factly. "Now he has to do it by himself."

Melissa smirks and says, "She's already employing a system of punishment and reward? That's the Hastings blood talking."

Grace grins adorably at her father and Toby can do nothing but smile. "If I didn't think you were your mother before, I sure do now."