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City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

By lunch time, Ele had about half of the design done, and she decided it was a good time to take a break. Standing up, she stretched and looked up at the sky. It was beginning to look gloomy, so she pulled her painting into the suite but left the door open. If it rained the sound would fill the space and freshen the air.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

The next morning, Ele work up as the sun spilled into her room and stretched. Getting up, she changed into a pair of leggings, a tank top, and pulled a sweater over her shoulders. Pulling her hair into a ponytail and knelt in front of one of her bags.

It was full of art supplies, paints, brushes, books of sketch paper and paint paper. Pulling out the paints, brushes, and papers as well as an easel, Ele took her supplies and went to the back porch where the lighting was best.

A few hours later, Ele had her headphones in, music playing from her phone, and her mind was on the task in front of her. Using pictures and her sketches, Ele had been able to create the beginnings of a photo realistic depiction of the model railway, She had finished a train, and the surrounding landscape, but the start of the finished product was there,

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

His lips were warm and soft on her cheek, and he didn't look disappointed that she had given him a boundary. In fact he had stayed well within that boundary. With her heart fluttering, and a giddy feeling in her middle, Ele waved to Tyler as he went to the buggy. Once he drove off, Ele went back inside and locked her door behind her for the night.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

That sent Lee's heart into a frenzy, and she froze to process the request. Tyler was standing there in front of her, tall, strong, safe... He was safe. Letting a breath out, Ele nodded, but pointed to her cheek,

"Here, you can kiss me here."

Her voice came out small, breathy and unsure while her hands shook a little.

Safe. He is safe. He makes you safe.

Ele reminded herself in her mind, standing still for Tyler, uncertain of what to do.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Following him, Ele leaned on the door frame and bit her lip again, her nervous habit when she was unsettled but not unhappy. She didn't want Tyler to leave, even though she was tired and he needed to work in the morning,

"Tyler,"

She called, waiting for him to pause before continuing,

"Ummm..."

Ele searched for the words for a moment, trying not to seem awkward,

"Drive safe."

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Standing as well, Ele stood up and smiled at Tyler. Feeling brave, she stepped forward and gave him a hug,

"Today was a lot of fun. Thank you."

She said quietly, then she released Tyler and took a step back again.

"I don't know if I'll see you tomorrow, but I hope you enjoy the tiramisu."

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Thinking for a moment, Ele couldn't decide,

"What would we do? If we just sit and talk, I may fall asleep anyway
.. No offense, I'm just tired and used to an early bed anyway."

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

"That's so sweet of you,"

Ele,said with a smile. She genuinely liked the fact that Tyler seemed truly interested in helping his mother, but before she,could say anything else a yawn escaped from Ele.

"Oh man!"

She said, shaking her head and blinking,

"That came out of no where!"

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Straightening up as the mood of the conversation changed, Ele put a smile on her face and scooted back to her original position.

"If I can meet her in the,next week and a half, I would love to meet her."

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

With his arm around her, Ele reflexively tensed for a moment. Closing her eyes and taking a breath, Ele forced herself to relax. She was safe here, Tyler wouldn't hurt her, it was time to trust him a bit,

Taking another breath, Ele leaned against Tyler, just a little,

"My mom was the only family I ever knew. I don't even have a father's name on my birth certificate, and Mom claimed she was an only child and that her parents died before I could remember them."

She shrugged and bit her lip,

"Mom and I haven't spoken since I became emancipated at 15. Her parting words were, 'Fine, good riddance you ungrateful bitch.'"