Searching for Anika

Chapter 2

The next day, I called Diane Colley's office and set up an appointment for 2pm, next Thursday. The week came and went by so fast that I almost forgot about it. Good thing I had a reminder set in my calendar app, just in case I did forget. I smoke a lot of weed so, my memory can get a little cloudy at times. But nevertheless, Xola and I cranked up my neon yellow Jeep Cherokee and hit the road.

    Diane's office was located in Buckhead, which was about a 20 minute ride from our downtown Atlanta condo. It actually ended up being a 15 minute ride because as a fellow Atlien, I know certain backroads and shortcuts to take. I ain't gon lie... As soon as we started inching closer to Diane's office, I started to get nervous and was perspiring like a mothafucka. We had the AC on in the car and I still had little sweat beads around my head and face.

I guess Xola must've noticed this because she opened up the glove department and handed me a couple of napkins to wipe my face. Then, she lovingly squeezed my forearm and smiled at me. Xola's smile was always so comforting to me. She was such a beautiful woman. Sometimes, I got the feeling that she didn't even know this. But I felt very appreciative of her at that moment. I smiled back, as I turned into the 10 level parking garage. Diane's office was located on the fifth floor of one of the major business suites in Buckhead. As we walked into the elevator, Xola pressed the number 5 to take us up to the fifth floor. I could hear the beeps going off, after each floor we passed and I got nervous again. This time, it was my palms.

Xola was holding my hand, so I know she felt my sweat. She took her hand sanitizer out her purse and handed it to me, while rubbing my back. I squirted a little bit of the sanitizer in my hands and gave it back to her. "It's going to be ok, baby.", Xola said. "Remember, this is only just the beginning. Let's hope that her 98% success rate is the real thing."

The last bell rang and I looked up at the digital screen that said 5. We were here and there was no turning back. The elevator doors opened and Xola continued to hold my hand, as we walked to enter through the glass double doors that lead to Diane's PI office. We arrived about 10 minutes before the appointment started. We strolled up to the receptionist desk so I could sign in. The girl that sat behind the desk looked like a younger version of Diane.

She had her hair in 4 braids that definitely didn't look like weave, with her edges laid and beautiful hazel brown eyes. I noticed the name tag on the front of her black button down shirt said 'Egypt C.' I started to think to myself that maybe Diane was her mother but I could've been wrong. Especially when she picked up the phone to let Diane know that her 2pm appointment was here. She didn't call her "Mom" or anything. She sounded super professional, so I shrugged it off.

Xola had gone to sit down in one of the chairs in the reception area. She also grabbed one of the magazines off the cherry wood coffee table and started flipping through it, while we were waiting. Next thing I knew, I heard the door to Diane's office open and out walked the woman I saw on TV about a week ago. She seemed taller than what she appeared to be in the commercial, but that could've been just because she had heels on, though. She was slim, too.

Diane was still sporting the salt and pepper bob, but she had a part in it on the left side. In the commercial, her part was down the middle so, she definitely looked different from the ad. She was wearing a white button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up halfway on her forearms and navy blue slacks. Diane looked in Xola and I's direction and smiled. Her teeth were amazingly white and straight. Then, she walked over to us and shook both of our hands.

"Good afternoon, ladies. As you already know, I am Diane Colley. Welcome to my office."

We greeted her back mutually and began to follow behind her into her office. Diane stood by the door, as Xola and I walked in. Before she closed the door, she said to Egypt, with a smile, "Thank you, baby girl." Egypt must've smiled or nodded her head or something because I didn't hear her say anything back.