“Do you like school?” Olivia asked, wrapping her arms around her legs.
“It’s fun, but I miss being at the airport all the time. I don’t get to go on as many trips with Daddy like I did before school.”
Olivia vowed then and there to make sure this baby got on a fun flight soon. Not transporting another client, but something just for Piper. Another item she mentally added to the list of things she needed to discuss with Jackson. At this rate, she’d have to schedule a two-day conference with the man.
“Are you going to make the airport bigger?”
Piper’s question caught Olivia off guard. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, that was something else I heard Daddy say when he thought I was in bed.”
Her devilish grin was so rotten and adorable at the same time. Olivia wondered if Jackson knew he had a very intelligent kid on his hands.
“I’m not sure what we’re doing quite yet,” Olivia answered honestly. “Your dad and I are going to talk. What do you think we should do?”
“Well, he said something about movie stars.” Piper’s focus went back to the mirror as Melanie continued curling ringlets. “That would be the coolest thing ever if my daddy got to fly them. Maybe he’d let me ride too.”
So that was the angle he’d been discussing. From a business standpoint, the idea was brilliant and other than the obvious risk, there was no good reason not to pursue the plans.
But, from a personal, emotional standpoint, there was every reason not to push forward.
“Maybe if rich people use the airport, Daddy could buy that plane.” Piper’s questioning gaze turned to Olivia once again. “They’d have to pay a lot of money, right? Then we could afford it.”
Olivia wished she had that large chunk of money because she’d just buy the plane for Jackson and Piper. It was obvious they were a team and Piper thought the sun rose and set on her father . . . as most little girls do. Olivia had been no different at that age.
“Do you want your curly hair up or down?” Melanie asked as she fluffed up the curls.
Piper shook her head from side to side, watching in the mirror as each curl swung wildly. “Down. I always have two ponytails because that’s all Daddy knows how to do. Maybe you guys could teach him something new.”
“Olivia would love to show your father,” Jade piped up.
Narrowing her eyes, Olivia shot a death glare to her friend. Jade winked and offered a half grin.
What was one more thing to add to the list of things she wanted to discuss with Jackson? Perhaps she could just search some YouTube videos and send him the links. That way he could learn himself and she didn’t technically have to be there.
Melanie placed the curls in just the right spot and put a light spray on Piper’s hair.
“There.” Melanie stood back and clasped her hands together. “You are a beautiful young lady all the time, this is just a new look for you.”
Piper hopped off the bench and did a twirl. “Now I need a dress. Something that looks pretty when I spin.”
Jade came to her feet. “Then let’s go shopping.”
Once again, Olivia looked at her friend like she’d lost her mind. “Now?”
“I have nothing else to do but paint a bathroom,” Jade replied. “I’m always up for some retail therapy.”
“Is there anywhere close that sells kids’ clothes?” Melanie asked.
“Oh, my friend’s mom has a store,” Piper exclaimed. “It’s called . . . hmmm . . . I don’t know. But it’s by the store that sells fish.”
Fish? Haven didn’t have a pet store that Olivia was aware of. “Do you know the name of the fish store?” she asked.
Piper shook her head, sending the curls flying. “No, but it’s by the place that has stamps.”
Okay, so this new store was near the post office. That shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out.
“I better text your daddy again and see if he cares.”
Olivia pulled out her phone and sent off a message. She was shocked to see how much time had passed since she’d first picked Piper up. She was the sweetest little girl and it was obvious she was thoroughly enjoying her girl time and in all honesty, Olivia was, too. Jackson had raised one very special girl and he was doing his best as a single dad, but sometimes a girl just needed another female . . . no matter how old.
Her phone chimed with his reply.
“Your dad says you can go.”
Piper squealed and started dancing around the bedroom. “I’ve been wanting to go to this place, but I didn’t think Daddy would like it so I never asked. Can you take me by my house first?”
“For what?” Olivia asked.
“I want to get my piggy bank. If Daddy doesn’t need it for the plane, then I can use it for a new dress.”
Olivia’s heart lurched. There was no other way to describe the strong emotions she felt right at this moment. The girl didn’t ask for anything except love and affection. She just wanted to be with women, to be shown what it was like to have some girl time and do all the things her father wasn’t quite sure about. He was a remarkable man, an impressive father, but understandably he couldn’t make up for the absence of a woman in her life.
“I’ll buy you any dress you want,” Melanie stated. “You keep saving for that Play-Doh set.”
Piper’s brows drew in. “Are you sure? I don’t mind giving you my four dollars.”
Melanie leaned down and gave her a hug. “I’m positive. But there’s one condition. You have to let me approve of it, so that means you’re going to need to try it on and model it for us.”
Piper clapped her hands wildly. “I will, I will. Let’s go.”
She raced out of the room, leaving everyone behind. Jade glanced to
