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City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

"Oof!"

Ele grunted as Lucy piled onto her, but smiled anyway. She genuinely loved children, and seeing the small group made her happy and instantly lifted her mood.

"Hi Lucy!"

She said, shifting so that the little girl was more centered on her lap. Looking around Lucy, Ele smiled towards Annabel and Amelia,

"I like your shirts, did you do them yourselves?"

Her words came out quiet, shyly, but she wanted to make the effort for her boyfriend.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Ele cast a glance at Tyler and managed a small, wobbly smile even as her body trembled. There were more people coming, but she tried to swallow her fear and the urge to run away. Tyler had told her about his large family, and she supposed this was to be her new normal.

"I like kids."

She said quietly, relaxing her hands little by little.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Stiffening in Tyler's lap, there was no time for Ele to make a quick escape to the bedroom before Tyler's mom came in. Her direct words brought Ele up short and, despite her best effort to maintain eye contact, Ele's eyes fell away from the older woman to lock on the floor.

Swallowing hard, Ele managed to force out a few words,

"What did Vale tell you?"

Her voice shook, and was barely above a whisper, but Ele was trying even as she clenched her hands in fists, trying to stop them from trembling,

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Ele said he goodbyes to the others then followed Tyler inside. Sitting on his lap, she curled up against Tyler and rested her head against his shoulder,

"What if your mom doesn't like me?"

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Following Tyler inside, Ele carried in one of her bags but when she saw the unfamiliar woman inside Ele froze in the doorway. She seemed nice enough, and she was Tyler's mother, but Ele couldn't help the wave of shyness that overtook her. Casting her eyes on the floor, Ele murmured a greeting then quickly got out of the way as they went out to examine the car. Staying inside, Ele put away the food items before going to the bedroom to put her bag down. Steeling herself, Ele put her hands in her pockets and went out to where the group was gathered and unloading the cars.

Standing a little away from Tyler and his mom, Ele went to stand near Eric, leaning against him a little,

"How do you get along with the mother of your boyfriend?"

She asked under her breath.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

They were in the trailer, as Vale was driving now, so Ele had her head in Tyler's lap. She was dozing lightly until he asked the question and she rolled onto her back so she could look up at him,

"It should come in tomorrow, but there isn't much in there. The only large piece of furniture I kept was a vanity so I can give back some space in the bathroom."

Smiling up at Tyler, Ele picked up his hand and played with his fingers,

"Everything else is boxes of the rest of my clothes, art supplies and my canvases which we can move into my part of the shop."

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

"I feel free, more so than I ever have before."

She said, opening her bottle and taking a drink,

"Even with Mom out there, she won't come for me with Tony in prison. She's a coward when she's alone."

Smiling up at Tyler and snuggling closer, Ele planted a kiss on Tyler's neck,

"And I don't feel alone anymore."

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Terry and Ele had been laughing and having their own mini photo shoot with the cars, Ele now leaned against the hood of the Miata, her red hair raising slightly in the breeze. When she heard Tyler come out, Ele skipped away from the car and hugged Tyler tightly around the middle,

"Do you have the red kind? That's my favorite!"

Feeling giddy with happiness, Ele smiled up at Tyler,

"You're incredibly handsome! Have I told you that?"

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

"Well, I'm going to document this trip on Instagram!"

Ele declared, getting out of the car and leaning against the door. Posing, she smiled at her phone as she clicked away,

"Whenever we stop or see something cool I'll post."

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

As they slowed into the town, Ele looked out the window,

"Where are we?"

She asked, her phone now useless without data to look up where they were.