Finding You (the intro)

Noisy, cold, crowded, smelly- Della's mind grasped at adjectives as she desperately tried to make sense of her surroundings. This was her first trip to the city. And this will be my only trip to this city she decided within minutes of stepping out of the airport.

Why her Aunt June had ever chosen to leave the rolling acres of family ranch land in Texas and move to such a place as this overcrowded cement wasteland baffled Della. Furthermore, why Aunt June left her upscale Jersey City apartment to Della in her will baffled her. Della had four siblings and seven first cousins; Aunt June had plenty of nieces and nephews to bestow her wealth on.

Alas, here Della found herself- or rather lost herself- far away from her quiet Texas cottage tucked away on her family's ranch. Her cellphone was smashed beyond use. Someone had bumped into her on the busy sidewalk, knocking the phone out of her hand. Before she could react, another passer-by landed their foot right on top of the device's screen without even noticing. Her wallet was back at the hotel. She had left it by mistake. Overwhelmed and flustered, Della couldn't even remember what direction her hotel was in at this point. Della had never been around so many people at one time, but she had also never felt so alone in her life. No one bustling about seemed to have a spare second to make eye contact with her, much less take a minute to give her directions.

Defeated, Della plopped down on a bench.

"Great, just great" she lamented to no one in particular as raindrops began to trickle down from the bleak sky. "Broken phone, no wallet, and now no umbrella. I won't dare ask if things could get worse."

Della closed her eyes and transported herself back to Texas, back to her cottage, to her favorite white wicker rocking chair on the porch where she had a view of nothing but green pastures for miles. And she had a warm cup of coffee in hand. Oh, she could almost smell the coffee.

"Are you alright?" a masculine voice coated in a thick Scottish accent interrupted Della's daydream.

She snapped her eyes open to see a fair-skinned man with auburn hair standing in front of her. He wasn't particularly tall- probably around five foot eight. He appeared to be lean underneath his bulky navy trench coat. His face was handsome; his brow furrowed in concern as his ocean-blue eyes met hers.

"Honestly, no. I can't say that I am alright at the moment" Della's voice cracked as she fought back her tears. Becoming a blubbering fool in front of this guy right now would definitely make things worse. After a deep breath, she was able to blurt out a brief elaboration: "I'm not from around here. My phone is smashed, and I have no idea which direction leads back to my hotel." A tear escaped from the corner of her left eye and made a trail down her cheek.

The stranger studied her for a moment before his brow smoothed. He pulled his lips into a tight line.

"Right then. Why don't you step over to my place? We'll get ya a warm cup of coffee and a bite to eat, then we'll see about setting you in the right direction for your hotel."

Yep, worse Della mused internally as her look of despair was exchanged for an expression of shock. These city men! He sees her crying on a bench and he thinks that it's appropriate to ask her over to his place? The only soul that had spoken to her face-to-face since her arrival to the city asks her to his place after less than a minute of conversation?

In response to her new facial expression, the red-headed man gestured to the sign over Della's head. The words Scotty's Place: Hot Coffee, Quick Bites, and Used Books in neat, red script contrasted against the drab grey building.

"I'm James. My mates call me Scotty" he introduced his self as he held open the door.

The strong smell of fresh coffee greeted Della as she rose from the bench and stepped closer to the door. Her stomach rumbled audibly.

"Della" she mumbled her introduction as she entered the threshold and took in the quiet little haven she presently found herself in.

"Nice to meet you, Della. How do you take your coffee?"