The Soul Room (28 page)

It’s a sunny morning. It's my turn for a lie-in and I can
hear Jacopo laughing downstairs with John. I doze, half dreaming, half
listening to the birds singing outside, the sound of the first stirrings of
life - cars starting, dogs barking, a kid rattling down the road on a
skateboard.

A little later Jacopo appears at the door,
beaming.

'Dad says we can have chocolate biscuits!'

'Ooh lovely, what a treat.'

'It's because it's a Saturday and because I fed
the cats.'

'I see, well done.'

He clambers into the bed with me. His feet are cold. He's
all wiry now, long and lean and strong. He cuddles up in the crook of my arm,
his head nestled neatly under my chin. Suddenly he sits up - a look of delight
and surprise on his face. He drags the duvet down, pulls up my top a little and
rests both his hands on my belly. He pauses, then: 'Ah ha!' He laughs out loud.

'What is it sweetheart?' I look at him
quizzically.

He looks down, kisses the palm of his hand and
rests it again on my stomach.

‘Go back to sleep Mum!’

‘Why?’

'Because she's waiting for you!' he replies
with a smile