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Kaleo’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, but he just nodded, his face open and trusting. "That’s amazing, babe. Of course you should go. When do you leave?"

Anna hesitated, staring at the horizon again. She had never told Kaleo about everything that had happened back then. About the life with Julian. "I’m not sure yet," she said finally, forcing a lightness into her voice. "I’ll figure it out today."

Kaleo smiled at her, squeezing her hand gently. "Whatever you decide, I’ll be here, I will go with you." he said. "Always."

Anna smiled back, touched more deeply than she could put into words. But underneath that warmth, a small, uneasy part of her whispered that some truths don’t stay buried forever.

She slipped her hand from his gently, keeping her voice soft. "I think... it’s better if I go alone," she said. "Someone needs to take care of the shop, remember? We can’t exactly close it down for weeks — especially with the tourist season starting."

Kaleo opened his mouth to argue, but she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, cutting him off before he could.

"I’ll be fine," she promised. "It’s just a few weeks. I’ll go, smile for a few photos, listen to some boring speeches, and be back before you even have time to miss me."

He searched her face for a moment, as if trying to read between the lines, but finally he nodded, trusting her, like he always did.

"Alright," he said quietly. "But call me every day. No excuses."

"I will," Anna said, weaving her fingers through his again and giving his hand a squeeze.

Her heart tugged uneasily in her chest. She wished it were just a trip to Oxford.

And Kaleo, her beautiful, trusting husband, had no idea what ghosts might be waiting on the other side.

......