Anna's four-year relationship with her boyfriend, Jeremy, abruptly ends, and Anna is convinced by her best friend Libby to try her luck on a dating app called 'Swiper'. An Anna/Declan story. No relation to the events of the movie Leap Year (2010), just using the characters for an alternate universe story.
NOTE: I will be changing up the POV's in this story and to make it clear when that POV changes, they will be separated by this: ~ISR~?~ISR~ (The person's POV will be the name of that character in place of the ?)
BIG THANKS TO SHAWNA FOR YOUR EDITING HELP!
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these characters, just borrowing them from the 2010 Movie, "Leap Year". Starring Matthew Goode and Amy Adams.
I Swiped Right
CHAPTER TWELVE
~ISR~
The following morning, Anna stretched as she woke, snuggling into Declan's arms. Her gaze locked onto his face as she gently brushed some hair off his forehead, her cheek on his shoulder. She smiled when she saw a slow lazy smirk appear on his lips as he turned his head towards her.
"Hmmmm…." He hummed, turning his body towards her as well. "I was having the best dream about ya." He smiled, finally opening his eyes, his gaze meeting hers.
"What about me?" She posed, leaning in to kiss his lips.
"Our weddin'. Yer walking down the aisle towards me, on yer father's arm." He confessed. A brilliant smile lit up her face at his confession.
"Yeah?" She replied, running her hands over his naked chest and over his shoulders, pulling him on top of her.
"I don't want to wait too long to marry ya, Love." He began. "When did you want to get married?" He murmured, moving his lips to her neck, and kissing her sweetly before pulling back to get her reaction.
"After seeing all the drama Libby's been going through for her and Ron's wedding, the stress she's under. I can definitely say I don't want a big affair. Besides, my only family is my dad." She stated solemnly.
"We can do simple. Just us, a few guests, like Ron and Libby, yer dad of course. The reception can be done at the pub." He soothed, kissing her temple, before laying back.
"Really? You don't mind something that small?" She asked for clarification.
"Smaller is better, I think." He finished.
"But what about your family? Declan?" She pressed.
"We can plan to visit Ireland and have a small to-do with them." He explained.
"If you're sure." She prodded.
"I'm sure, darlin'." He smiled
"So, should we set a date?" She smiled gleefully, sitting up and clapping her hands excitedly.
He pulled her back down into his arms. "Yer so fucking adorable! I love it." He explained.
"And you're gorgeous. Date?" She replied excitedly, as he laughed out loud at her comment.
"What about June 21st?" He offered.
"And why June 21st?" She queried, laying on his chest, her chin resting on her folded arms, as she waited for his response.
"Because, it's exactly two months from now." He stated simply.
"I love you." She stated assuredly, pressing her lips to his as he molded his to hers as well. Taking her upper lip between his and groaning as she wiggled herself over him.
"Anna." He growled as she lowered herself down over his erection. "I love ya, too. Is two months…" he began. "…enough time?" He panted, between breaths of air, as she rolled her hips over him.
"Yes!" She cried, her hands running over his chest. "We can do it all at the pub, move tables for the ceremony, move them back after."
His hands held her hips, guiding her over him and when she found her rhythm, his ghosted his hands up her back, and down again, cupping her ass in his hands.
"Done." He agreed. "Now, it's my turn." He smiled, flipping them suddenly, so she was on her back. He pulled her legs around his hips and thrust into her firmly, his lips sucking a nipple into his mouth.
"I'm so close, Dec." She panted, as he pressed a thumb to her clit, helping her to finish.
"Yes!" She cried, her orgasm washing over her.
"That's my girl." He praised, as his thrusts became faster and more urgent before he came inside her moments later.
Cradling her in his arms, his lips sought out hers and they cuddled in the aftermath of their lovemaking.
~ISR~Anna~ISR~
I felt safe in Declan's arms but also felt bad about my break down last night. "Dec?" I posed laying cuddled into his chest, as he trailed his fingers over my back.
"Hmmmm…" He replied lazily, peeking an eye open to look at me. I couldn't help but smile at him.
"I'm sorry." I stated, worrying my lip between my teeth in anxiousness.
"For what, Love?" He pressed, sitting up and pulling me with him.
"For my break down last night." I confessed, hanging my head.
"Ye've nothing to be sorry for, darlin'." He began. "If anything, I should be sorry. For not seeing it sooner. How she was treating ya, Love." He retorted in concern.
"It's not really your fault, you do know that, right?" I tried to persuade.
"It feels like it is." He added.
"I could have said something sooner, and didn't. But it's over, and she's gone, yes?" I posed, crawling into his lap once more.
"Definitely gone." He confirmed, his hands on my ass.
"Can you promise me something though?" I offered, biting at my lip again.
"If ya stop biting at yer lip, Love! That's my job." He teased gently, using his thumb to free it, before kissing me gently, tenderly licking at the lip I'd just been biting.
"Okay." I breathed, when he finally released my lips. "So, the next time you are hiring, which you will be soon." I started before he interjected.
"Ya'll get final say!" He exclaimed with a laugh.
"And be present for the interviews?" I suggested.
"All of it." He confirmed as his lips found mine in a tender kiss.
"We set a date!" I exclaimed excitedly, jumping from the bed and dancing around naked. "I need to go shopping! And call Libby." I added enthusiastically.
Declan just smiled and let out a small laugh at my excitement, before he moved from the bed. Just as he did, his cell phone started ringing, and he waltzed back to the bedside table to retrieve it.
"Alec?" He called down the line after checking the call display.
I couldn't hear what was being said, but Declan grabbed my attention and put it on speaker.
"Anna's here, so what's going on?" He prodded.
"Hi, Anna, sorry to call you so early, but something's up with Jack. Your dad's been funny this morning." He began.
"What do you mean funny?" I urged, pulling my silk robe on and sitting next to Declan on the side of the bed. I know Alec couldn't see me, but it felt weird to talk to him while naked. Especially if it was about my dad.
Alec went on to describe how he came down at 10:00AM as usual for brunch with the rest of the early morning staff, and was mumbling to himself. He looked like he hadn't slept at all.
"I'll be down soon then; I need to talk to him anyway." I alerted, leaving Declan to finish the call.
We had a quick shower together, and kept things tame, as my mind was on my dad. Dressing in jeans and a cardigan sweater with a light blouse underneath, I brushed my hair out and blew it dry. Declan, clad in his usual jeans, button down shirt and sweater, handed me a coffee and a piece of coffee cake he'd made. We needed some quick sustenance before heading down and hailing a cab to take us to the Caragh.
~ISR~Declan~ISR~
Anna went from delightedly happy to a little morose after Alec's call, and it was worrying me. Keeping her hand in mine, we rode in relative silence to the pub. But my concern was weighing on my mind.
"Are ya okay, Love?" I pressed, squeezing her hand.
"Yes, sorry. I think I know why dad is off today, I didn't realize the date and its significance." She admitted.
"Do ya want to tell me now, or wait until we're at the pub?" I offered in support.
"The pub please. I don't want to break down here." She explained, turning her head into my chest and taking deep breaths. I wrapped my arms around her, rubbing her back as she tried to keep her composure.
When we finally arrived, I slipped the driver the fare and exited the cab, helping Anna out after me. I unlocked the front doors and led Anna in, before locking them again. We still didn't open for another half hour. Alec met us at the bar and informed us that Jack took his breakfast upstairs.
"What's going on with him?" Alec posed in true concern. They'd gotten close since Jack started the work on the rooms, serving him his dinner and beer in the evenings.
I turned to Anna to get her reaction. She took a deep breath before speaking. "Today," She paused. "Today is the anniversary of my mother's death." She confirmed.
"Oh, darlin', I'm sorry." I comforted, pulling her into my arms as she cried quietly.
"If it's not too personal, can I ask how she passed?" Alec queried delicately.
Anna pulled back from me to look at him. "I was only seven years old when Dad sat me down to tell me mom was sick." She started, taking another steadying breath. "Breast cancer, stage four. There was nothing they could do but make her comfortable by then. It had spread to her lymph nodes and other organs." She stated sadly.
"It was metastatic then?" Alec offered. I knew his own mother had passed from the same evil, and turned back to Anna.
"Yes. Three months later she was gone. It was diagnosed too late and it was six days later I had my 8th birthday, the funeral was the day before." She offered, turning back into my chest and breaking down.
"We'll check on Jack, thanks Alec." I stated, leading Anna off to my office so she could catch her breath.
Cuddling with her on the couch, she let it all out. "Cry it out, darlin'." I comforted as best I could. I hated to see her hurting but there wasn't much I could do. It wasn't like I could bring her mother back.
"Do ya want to go up and talk to yer dad alone?" I posed.
She nodded as she finally seemed to calm herself. "Yes, please. At least to start. See where he's at." She added.
"I'll check on you in a bit then, bring up lunch okay?"
Anna headed up to see her dad and I watched from the bottom of the stairs as she waved at me sadly. I imagine her birthday is a bit of a sad affair, as it's a reminder that her mom is gone. But I'm hoping I can make it special, just for us. The last thing I wanted was to upset her further. Needing some privacy, myself, I went back to my office and closed and locked the door, pulling out my iPhone before auto-dialling a familiar number.
"'Allo?" The answering voice called.
"Mum? It's Declan." I announced.
"Declan! Darlin', how are you sweetheart?" She called lovingly. It was around 2:30PM for her in Dublin at the moment, so I'd placed my call accordingly.
"I'm good Mum, just wanted to check in with ya. How's dad?"
I sat back in my office chair and caught up with my Mum on family affairs and told her more about Anna and that we'd set a date. I call once a month to check in and when I first told her I'd met someone, she was screaming down the line so loud, I thought she was in the same room with me.
"This isn't the usual time ya call me, yer almost ten days early. Is something wrong?" She stated. Mother's always knew if something was up and I related to her the difficult day it was for Anna and her dad.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I know it's hard to see her upset, I'm sure ya hate that ya can't make it go away but just be there for her. It will mean a lot more in the end." She advised.
"I can't take it Mum." I replied, finally letting go, and crying myself. "Seeing her like that, it breaks me." I confessed.
I took a few breaths and calmed down, wiping my eyes.
"It's because ya love her so much, that it hurts, hun." She reiterated. "And it's always going to hurt to see her in any kind of pain." She added.
"Thanks Mum." I started. "I do miss ya, ya know. Dad too." I confessed.
"We miss you too honey. But you sound happy whenever ya usually call, and I can't wait for the day that we get to meet yer Anna." She praised.
"I should go. I need to check on her and Jack." I finished.
"Anytime, sweetheart. I love ya, Declan. Ya take care of her, and yerself!" She ordered. I smiled to myself.
"I will mum. Love ya too. Bye for now." I declared, ending our call. Taking a few more moments, I gathered myself before heading to the kitchen to start some lunch for Jack, Anna, and myself.
~ISR~
When Anna was outside the apartment door, she knocked quietly and her father's voice echoed out into the hall.
"GO Away!" He shouted.
"Daddy? Please let me in." She requested, resting her hand on the bare wood of the door, almost as if she was feeling for a pulse.
A few moments later, it opened and Jack stood there with red rimmed eyes and his clothes askew.
"Anna?" He mumbled. "I miss her so much." He cried.
"I know. I do too." She offered as they hugged each other in comfort. Both crying as Jack finally led her in and made them some tea before sitting on the couch.
They shared memories of her mother. Laughed at the good times and cried about the sad. Her last days are the most prominent in Anna's mind.
"Have you even told Declan, that your birthday is in less than a week?" Jack questioned.
Anna shook her head no. "It's hard when it's also such a reminder." She confessed.
"Well, does he know why we're both down in the dumps?"
"I did tell him and Alec, and I mentioned my birthday in a roundabout way, so he's probably figured that out by now." She smiled.
"There's my Anna banana." He cajoled, pinching her cheek lightly.
They sat back on the couch and sipped their tea, reveling in the quiet. The echoing knock on the door startled them both and Jack breathed out in exasperation.
"It's just Declan, dad. He was going to bring up lunch!" She admonished.
"Alright then. Let him in." He caved.
"We have news too, so something to be excited about." She expelled as she unlocked the door and let him in.
"Hi Love, is everything okay?" He whispered cautiously.
"It is. Just somber." Anna explained as he placed the tray with lunch on the coffee table.
When Declan moved, he left the couch and other living room furniture as they didn't need it at the new apartment. So, Jack was making good use of it.
"Declan, sorry I'm not very useful to you today." Jack greeted.
"Don't worry about it. I wouldn't put you to work anyway. Take the weekend to relax." Declan ordered.
"Anna says you two have some news! I hope I'm not going to be a grandpa too soon!" He teased, clapping Declan on the back.
"Daddy! I'm not pregnant. Jeez. At least not yet!" Anna interjected, pointing to the couch for her father to take a seat. He held his hands up in an 'I surrender' stance, as he backed away from Declan, a teasing smile on his face.
Declan was just glad to see him smiling, even if it was at the joke that he'd knocked up his daughter out of wedlock. He scratched at his light beard nervously as Anna kissed his cheek.
"Don't listen to him, and thank you for lunch." Anna praised as he sat on the ottoman that sat at the end of the coffee table.
"So, what is your news then?" Jack interrupted.
"We set a date for the wedding!" Anna called excitedly and Declan just smiled at her youthful exuberance.
"Good for you, when is it then?" Jack prodded as Declan handed him a plate with a deluxe burger and fries. A Guinness beer set in front of him. "Thank you." He added.
"Two months from today, June 21st." She announced, jumping slightly in her seat.
"Is that enough time? Libby's been planning hers for like eight months now!" Jack retorted in surprise.
"We don't want all that fanfare, daddy, you've seen how things are stressing Libby. Besides, it's not about the decorations or the venue, but who I'm marrying." Anna explained. That brought a smile to Jack's face, remembering Anna's mother.
"I felt the same about your mother." He started, "Charlotte," He added, looking to Declan. "Her friends and your grandmother tried to convince her to do this big spectacle, but it wasn't what we wanted." He paused. "We just wanted one another." He finished, looking to Declan and Anna.
"It's what we want too." Declan added, kissing her sweetly.
They talked a bit more about the final rooms to be completed and Anna was listening as Jack asked Declan about his family and whether they'd come for the wedding.
"I think we'll plan to visit Ireland and have a party there." He explained. "I talked to my Mum earlier and mentioned the date. She's excited for us but knows that we've not exactly planned much more than the date." He added.
Anna started forming a plan in her mind as she looked to Declan. "You called your mom?" She pressed.
"I did. It made me sad, knowing you miss yours so much, and she was only a phone call away." He confessed, cupping her cheek in his hand.
"Well, you let me know what I need to do and when. I'm guessing I'll need a penguin suit?" Jack offered and Anna and Declan laughed at his expression.
"You will be walking me down a makeshift aisle in the dining area, so yes you'll need a penguin suit, dad." Anna declared.
They finished lunch and both Jack and Anna's spirits were lifted.
~ISR~Anna~ISR~
After Declan told us he'd called his mom earlier, I had an idea and wanted it to be a surprise. I'd left my purse in his office so I asked if I could use his phone to call Libby.
",'course ya can, Love." He stated, handing it over. "I need to get to work, the lunch crowd is likely making an appearance. Bring it down when yer done?" He posed, kissing me sweetly before clearing their dishes and taking the tray back down with him.
"Anna?" Dad called, after Declan left.
"Hmmm?" I mumbled, scrolling through his recent call list.
"Your phone is on the kitchen counter, why did you need Declan's?" He questioned, a teasing tone to his question.
"I want to do something for Declan, and it has to be a surprise." I confirmed.
"You're going to call his mother, aren't you?" He smiled and I nodded in affirmation.
Locking myself away in dad's room, I lay on the bed and made the call.
"Declan? You just called me, what's going on now?" A worried voice expressed.
"Mrs. O'Callaghan?" I queried.
"Yes?"
"This is Anna."
Declan's mom asked me to call her Trudy, as Mrs. was so formal and she wanted to get to know her soon to be daughter-in-law. We talked for a bit about Declan and shared cute stories about his gallantry and how he really dislikes when someone disrespects me. It would seem Declan was also keeping her informed of Jeremy's antics as well and she was so comforting and supportive in her comments about it. Expressing how she also disliked when someone tried to impose on another couple when they clearly didn't want that attention.
"He's always been defensive of his relationships but I think it got worse when that evil woman hurt him the way she did. He was the one disrespected." She exclaimed.
"You mean Kayleigh?" I asked in confirmation.
"Yes." She announced with disdain. I guess if it was my child, I'd have a bit of hatred for the woman who hurt her son too.
"Trudy, I wanted to surprise Declan and just this morning we decided on a wedding date." I announced. "I'd love it if you and your husband and his brother could come." I added.
She shrieked in excitement. "I was waiting for Declan to invite us, but I guess he thought it would cost too much, but you said there are rooms?" She expressed.
"We're almost done the room renovations, so you and Mr. O'Callaghan could stay above the pub in the B&B." I offered.
"I don't know if his brother, Aidan would come or not. I'll have to let you know." She added.
"That's his older brother, yes?" I asked.
"That's right, dear, older by four years."
"If he did come, would he be bringing anyone? I mean would you need another room for the guest or would they share."
"He's a perpetual bachelor, that one! Yer my only hope for some grandkids, Anna and oh Lord! Please don't feel pressured." She laughed.
"I look forward to meeting you Trudy, your husband as well." I expressed. "And don't worry, I want to have kids with Declan, just not before the wedding." I teased.
"Declan's father, John, is very much a reserved personality, quiet like. Just like Declan." She explained.
"Declan is usually pretty reserved, isn't a talker, unless it's with me of course, but I like that." I confessed.
I gave Trudy my phone number and e-mail address and she gave me hers, with instructions to send her photos of my dress and the pub so she could help with the decorations. She wanted to plan to arrive on June 10th so they could have a proper visit, see some of New York and spend some time with Declan.
We ended our call and after a hug from my dad, and an apology for his rather depressed mood, which I brushed aside. I left him to head back down to Declan.
~ISR~Declan~ISR~
"Alec?" I called, as he passed the kitchen window.
"Yeah, Decco?" He replied.
"What in the bloody hell does this say?" I called in confusion showing him the order slip.
"BLT on rye, no mustard, extra bacon. Why?"
"Write a little more clearly with the abbreviations please, it's hard to tell what it is." I clarified, moving to fill the order.
Being that it was a Saturday, it was its usual busy self and I asked Alec to put an advert in the window again for a server. He would take the applications and I would set up any interviews. Although this time, Anna was getting the final say. No matter if it was a male or female. I'd completed the last few orders and there was a small break, so I cleaned up the work area a bit, preparing for the next rush when Anna waltzed into the kitchen, her heels clacking on the ceramic tile floors. I couldn't help but smile at her.
"Hi, darlin'. You talk to Libby?" I posed, drying my hands on a clean towel.
"No, I'll try again later. Ended up talking to dad some more. He's in a better mood, thankfully but it's just a hard day." She confessed as I pulled out a stool so she could sit.
"I'm glad he's better, but how are ya doing yerself, sweetheart?" I acknowledged.
"It's so hard, Declan. I mean I'm getting married, and she's not going to be here to do the things that we should be doing." She cried. I looked to my other kitchen staff to make sure they were minding their business and they just looked on in concern.
"I wish I knew how to make it better for you, Love." I confessed. That ache in my chest present again.
"I'll be okay, really, it's just the day in general making me think like that. I know she'll be there in spirit." She bravely announced.
"I'd like to think she led me to ya." I offered.
"Why would you think that?" She asked in surprise.
"Because she knew I'd take care of ya." I smiled. Her watery eyes met mine and she worried that lip of hers between her teeth once more.
"I love you." She whimpered, wrapping her arms around my torso and hugging me, to her.
"I'm so in love with ya, Anna." I replied, cupping her cheeks and wiping her tears.
"I can't wait to marry you." She smiled.
"Neither can I. But first…" I began.
"First what?" She pressed.
"I'd like to take ya out on a real date, for yer birthday?" I suggested, awaiting her reaction.
All I got was a sharp intake of breath.
