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have left it years ago, but something kept me there even though I
couldn t care for the land properly. Now I know I was waiting for you
to arrive, Goa and Stan. I have no child, no grandchild, not even a
nephew or niece. All I have is now yours. I ask only enough credits to
stay here until I die.
No, Grandfather, that would not be honorable of us, to take
without giving, said Goa, surprise, joy, and worry racing across his
features.
You called me Grandfather. Such a beautiful word. I shall
become your grandfather. Then all will be as tradition dictates, as the
seniors help provide for the next generation.
Goa bowed his head. We re honored to have you as our
grandfather. Our parents are dead, and we long to have an elder in our
family. It shall be as you say.
And you shall come and visit the farm when we have it
flourishing again. You ll see the land bloom once again as it did in the
past, promised Shiloah.
48 Berengaria Brown
A lively conversation developed about various fields and what to
plant in them. Shiloah sat back and watched their faces. Her men s
faces were alive and alight with excitement and joy as they planned
their future. Grandfather Ugyen s face was glowing with peaceful
serenity as he offered advice to his new family.
* * * *
The next few weeks flew by as the men planned how to treat each
field and discussed with Jim, Sam, Paul, and Grandfather Ugyen the
most appropriate crops and planting times. Shiloah and Orna talked
about the different varieties of roses which ones were best for soaps,
and which for fragrances, and which for ointments and decided
what they d plant first. They also spent time with Chevaunne,
planning the various rooms of the house and where would be the best
place for the office.
Each of the above-ground homes was connected to the
underground community by means of tunnels. The tunnel from
Chevaunne s house was in the barn. In Ugyen s, it was from the
mudroom, which would make shipping the parcels of rose products
much easier as they wouldn t need to be taken outside at all. No
stranger would be aware of the business.
The people of New Thimphu were very aware of the need to hide
from outsiders, not just their polyandrous marriage system, but also
their comparative wealth. Each above-ground house was left looking
very ordinary. With all the brothers sharing a wife, land was not
divided, and no younger son was left without means of earning a
living. Such stability led to prosperity and in the past people had
become jealous of this way of life. That was why the original settlers
had built New Thimphu and kept most of it hidden underground. The
stories of more recent arrivals, such as what had happened to Orna s
husbands and even the coming of Goa and Songstan, encouraged
Possess Me 49
them to intentionally and deliberately continue maintaining their
privacy.
Goa and Stan, along with Jim, were once again visiting
Grandfather Ugyen to discuss the farm. Shiloah left them sitting in the
courtyard garden and wandered inside to see if Chevaunne, who
worked as a nurse in the seniors facility, or Anh, whose great
grandmother was a resident there, were free to come have a coffee
with her.
Honored Grandmother was asleep in a comfy armchair in her
room. Anh must have been visiting with her when she dozed off
because Anh was standing just outside the doorway talking softly to
Tim. Shiloah quietly stepped back out of view. For some time, she d
noticed the way Anh s gaze and conversation turned to Tim, Barry,
and Russell. Russell was a doctor in the hospital adjoined to the
seniors facility, and he d been instrumental in the establishment of
The Grandparents Garden.
Tim, she didn t really know much about, but the youngest brother,
Barry, had a head of flaming red hair and was a teacher in the
elementary school. There were few redheads in the community, so
Barry stood out. But now, looking at Tim, Shiloah couldn t help but
notice how handsome he was, and how his gaze was fixed on Anh,
eating her up with an intense, passionate look. Hmm, I know she likes
them all. I wonder if there s an abduction and marriage coming up
soon in her future. Wow! Three men to fuck. Two is plenty for me!
Although Chevaunne is married to three men, of course.
Thinking of Chevaunne reminded her that she d intended to visit
with her, so Shiloah turned back the way she d come and looked
around for her friend.
The Grandparents Garden seniors facility was built in a hollow
square format with just the one passageway that went around in a
circle, so the elderly who liked to walk but were too frail or too
forgetful to be allowed to go outside could walk around and around
50 Berengaria Brown
the building, never being stopped by closed doors or getting lost and
disoriented.
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