Confessions Of An Escort – Episode 28

_28_

 

(Unedited)

 

MARK

 

Immediately George leaves, I go to the mini bar and pour myself two shots of black label. My head is not in the right place and I just want to stop thinking.

 

 

‘And you think alcohol will make it all okay?’ Francis asks looking at me hands dipped in his pockets

 

I don’t want to respond, he is my elder brother and I love him a lot but I might just lose all the respect I have for him.

 

He stares deep into my eyes, with that look that always says I am getting an answer from you whether you like it or not.

 

‘What do you want me to tell you huh?’ I ask pouring another shot

 

His eyes move from my eyes to the bottle that I am holding

 

‘Stop looking at me like I don’t know what I am doing.’ I yell

 

‘Mark I will take anything from you but not disrespect, aside from being your brother I am your friend and friends don’t bullshit each other.’ He says sternly

 

‘Friends don’t keep secrets from each other, friends tell. Friends are open; friends are each other’s keepers. You are not my friend!’ I yell allowing all my emotions to pour out

 

He doesn’t say anything

 

‘What wrong have I done?’

 

‘Francis you knew that Katie was a whore, you knew that she was a prostitute and yet you just kept quiet!’

 

His eyes changed from calm to angry, I know I have touched a muscle and that is what I want.

 

‘She is friends with Urah, you must have known something and yet you kept it from me.’

 

He takes a deep breath and picks up his car keys from the counter

 

‘You won’t say anything?’

 

He sighs

 

‘Mark I respect you, a lot. And if I am walking out right now it’s because I don’t want to lose the little respect I have for you, I watched you as you disrespected the woman you claim to love in front of her friend, her child and house help. You literally dragged her out of here when the best you could have done was to talk it over like two mature adults and if you feel you don’t want to be with her anymore, you could have told her.’

 

He pauses

 

‘About Katie, yes I have known for a while now about her being an escort. But she didn’t mention anything about Urah, even if she did I wouldn’t have told you anything because it is not in my place. Katie is not answerable to you or anyone else, she is my woman and answerable only to me. Whatever made her choose the path she did is her business and if she doesn’t want to tell me I won’t push because I have chosen to be with her and I will not discuss it with anyone what she doesn’t want to share.’ He says

 

‘Wow, just wow.’

 

‘So you are going to act like you are so in love and that it is okay to be with a whore right? Have you even thought of all the men that she could have slept with? The possibility of the pregnancies she must have terminated? Has it even crossed your mind that she might be sick? Have you?’ I add

 

Francis looks at me wordlessly, I have always known him to have an answer but this time he just walks out and closes the door gently behind him. A few minutes later I hear the gate open and I know he has driven off when it closes.

 

..

 

I cant say I didn’t think of all the things that Mark was brining into light, I thought through everything and I must be damned to tell anyone that I took it lightly. I have done all the research possible on being an escort and even though I didn’t like

 

 

everything I learnt, I have decided that I am going to be with Katie no matter what.

 

Only if she assures me that she has put that life behind her.

 

I drive to mum’s place, I know she is home alone because dad must have gone to play tennis.

 

‘If it isn’t my big baby.’ She says stretching her hands to me ‘Hey mum.’ I respond bending over to hug her ‘I missed you.’ She says

 

‘I missed you.’ I say smiling when I take in the cantu in her hair ‘I missed you.’ She responds

 

‘So where is Katie, I thought you would be coming with her.’ She says as we walk towards the house

 

‘You didn’t even know I was coming.’

 

‘She has been keeping you busy so I thought it’s only natural that the two of you be together all the time.’

 

‘I know you just want to know what’s been happening, we are fine.’ I say She leads me to the kitchen where she is baking muffins

 

‘These smell nice.’ I say getting a cappuccino flavored one.’

 

‘I baked enough to give you boys, just don’t eat what’s supposed to go to the orphanage.’

 

‘Yes mother.’ I say

 

She has always baked for the charity home since I can remember.

 

‘Mark called me.’

 

‘He did?’

 

She sighs

 

‘I have always told that boy to have patience least he loses everything good in his life.’

 

I sigh fully aware what he must have told her.

 

‘Have you talked to him though?’

 

‘That is where I am coming from.’

 

‘Explains your mood.’

 

I shake my head

 

‘Mark has a lot of growing up to do.’

 

‘He is your brother and by now you know his behavior, bear with him.’ ‘It doesn’t give him the right to treat Urah the way he did.’ ‘But you know your father will never accept her right?’

 

‘She is not answerable to any of us except Mark, it’s him she has a relationship with and that has to be respected.’ I say putting the cup cake down

 

‘And Katie?’

 

‘What about her?’

 

‘Birds of the same feather flock together.’ ‘Mum Katie is my woman.’

 

 

‘And Sean, are you willing to lose your friendship with Ezra just like that?’

 

‘His mother came through.’ She adds

 

I sigh

 

‘So many things are messed up and I would rather not talk about it right now.’

 

She looks at me intently

 

‘You know I love you right?’

 

‘Yes mother I know.’

 

‘And you won’t like what I am about to tell you but I will say it anyway. Katie was or is a lady of the night, and trust me not everyone will be sensitive enough to call her that. Most of them will call her a prostitute.’

 

She pauses to look at me

 

‘Francis I don’t know what exactly you feel for her but trust me this lady comes with baggage, she has a child with your friend. Her sister was dating the same man, then now there is this issue of her being an escort. Are you sure this is the kind of woman you want to spend forever with?’

 

‘And no I am not expecting an answer today, I want you to think through it. They are some habits that one can never change, she might stop today but years from now they will come back to destroy your home. Or maybe she might change, but have you thought of her family? The broken home she comes from? What if she never knows how to hold a family together because of where she is coming from? Francis I know you have a good head on your shoulders and between my sons you are the most mature so I trust you will make sound and mature decisions.’

 

I look at her

 

 

‘What I don’t want is for you to do anything that will come back to hurt you, I wouldn’t stand it.’

 

‘I know you care mother.’

 

‘Not just that, I love you and I will support whatever decision you will make. I might say ditch Katie today because she is not good for you, but look at Mer’vis. She too has her own skeletons. Every woman does, but while you can – don’t settle for less. And what I want you to know is what to accept now, sets precedence for how the future plays out. So lay a solid foundation, because problems will come and if your foundation is weak; you are bound to fail and I wouldn’t want that for you.’

 

‘Thank you mum.’

 

‘You are welcome, now take your time and think through before you make any irrational decisions and once again remember, whatever decision you make.. I will support you.’