Page 76 of Always Alchemy

Gossamer House is looking amazing. In homage to that first collection I launched with Wright’s backing, we’ve even had it dressed with the highest quality fake wisteria. The exterior is now festooned in purple gorgeousness. It’s all veryBridgerton.

The same theme carries through inside, because the master bedroom is fully decked out in the wisteria print we licensed to Osborne and Little. Five years later, it’s still one of their best-selling wallpapers.

My fatigue is physical as much as mental. It’s been a tonne of fun to spend a day out of the office, carting boxes around as our huge team decks the house out. I insisted on helping in the nursery, where our cherry blossom print adorns the walls, the crib bedding, and the tiny Little Wonders onesies hanging in the distressed white wardrobe.

For someone as visual as I am, being surrounded by the physical proof of our brand in all its forms is wonderfully reassuring. When I can see it, touch it, I can fully appreciate that we’ve done it.

I vindicated Adam’s faith in me. With the oxygen Wright gave Gossamer, our rise has been meteoric. And I may be shattered, but I know he kept the promise he made to me that first Christmas. I only get to do the really good stuff. The fun stuff. Thecreativestuff.

When I got pregnant with Grace, Adam and I hired a new CEO by mutual agreement, so that I could focus on my passion: my role as Creative Director. Michelle, our CEO, comes from Burberry. She’s firm and fabulous and I adore her. And with over a century of legacy to manage at her previous brand, she really gets what it means to build, to celebrate, our brand’s heritage, to solidify its DNA, to invest in what makes usus.

As Nige drives me back through the streets of London, I swipe through the photos Adam sent me earlier. Despite the craziness of today, I’ve looked at them a million times.

My two favourite people.

There’s a selfie from the back of the car and a few haphazard ones he took of Grace exploring her new nursery. She’ll only go for three hours, three days a week, but we both believe it’s a good way for her to socialise. In one photo, she’s stroking a sweet guinea pig and looking down at it in adoration.

But my favourite one is of Adam crouched down, balancing Grace on his thigh. He has both arms wrapped around her stomach, and they’re cheek to cheek. Just looking at them has my heart fit to bursting. I can’t wait to be at home with them. Who am I kidding? I don’t need a flotation tank. I just want to get in the hot tub with my people.

I text Adam.

10mins away. Family hot tub?

He replies straight away.

Grace is already in her swimming costume. She chose it from a shortlist of5

I smile. The fashionista gene is strong with that one. She didn’t stand a chance with us two as parents (though I swear her father preens more than I do).

I forward the photo to the Bennett family WhatsApp chat.

Looks like the first day was a success.

Mum’s the first to reply.

So sweet!! Give her a huge kiss from Granny! xxxxx

Then Winky messages.

The curly gene is strong. Tell Adam I hope he’s been practicing his putting. I won’t let him embarrass me on Tuesday.

I giggle at that. Totum, Winky’s employer, is holding its annual charity golf day at Sunningdale next week. The founder, Aidan Duffy, asked Adam to be his golf partner for the day, but Adam opted to go with my brother instead.

I message back.

Think he’s been too busy doing Daddy Daycare to get any practice in. Sorry. xx

I managed three months off when I had Grace before weeping all over Adam and begging him to let me work, even remotely. He eventually relented, and I started to get stuck in.

But when work threatened to overwhelm me, he took a step back from Wright. He’s still the Chairman, but he’s no longer the CEO. Anton played quite a role in helping himfind the right balance between prioritising family time and keeping his finger on the pulse.

It was a pretty emotional conversation between us, actually. My husband told me that he’d suffered enough loss and loneliness in his life. He wasn’t prepared to look up from his spreadsheets one day and realise he’d wasted years when he could have been spending time with our children.

Now he’s the primary caregiver for Grace. We have a nanny for the two days he’s in the office, and obviously we have a fleet of staff to cook for her and clean up after her, so it could be a lot more full-on. Still, that child runs circles around her poor father.

I know he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The man is a total softie.

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