Finding Bluefield by Elan Branehama

understood that you and Barbara were, you know…”
    “What?” Nicky said. “Just because two single women chose to share a house people jump to conclusions?”
    “It’s me, Nicky. I’m not jumping.”
    Nicky squashed her cigarette into the blacktop with her boot and took out another one.
    “Isn’t it true?” Andy asked.
    “Isn’t what true?”
    Andy leaned over and borrowed Nicky’s cigarette to light his. “Come on, Nicky. That you’re a lesbian.”
    “Does everyone in this town think I’m a dyke?”
    “People talk,” Andy said.
    “I’ve got to go,” Nicky said.

    *

    Nicky pulled up to her house. Mr. Jamison was out in the fields on his tractor. She got back into the Bel Air and drove into the fields to see him. Mr. Jamison waved. He shut the engine and stepped down from the huge tractor.
    “Hey, Nicky, what a nice surprise.”
    “Hello, Mr. Jamison,” Nicky said, getting out of her car. “How’re things?”
    “Been a good year. Didn’t start good, but the weather turned kind to us.” Mr. Jamison stuck his head in the car. “That Paul, Jr.? Let me take a peek at you. He looks a lot like your daddy.”
    “He sure does.”
    “Soon he’ll be out here fooling with my grandchildren. Learning how to plow these acres.”
    Nicky leaned against the car’s hood. “That’s what I want to talk to you about, Mr. Jamison,” she said. “I want to sell the farm.”
    “Isn’t renting it working out? If you need help, all you have to do is ask.”
    “You’re always after me to sell,” Nicky said.
    “But now I figure you’d want to hold on to it for Paul, Jr. here?”
    “That’s just it, Mr. Jamison, I’m doing this for Paul,” she said. “I worked things out with Paul’s father and we’re going to go live with him.”
    “You did? That’s great,” he said. “Where’s that?”
    “What?” What the hell am I getting myself into, Nicky thought.
    “Where his father lives?”
    “Oregon,” Nicky said. “Portland. Outside Portland. A small town in Oregon.”
    “That is far.” Mr. Jamison rubbed his cheek. “But what if you two decide to come back here?”
    “He’s not a farmer,” Nicky said.
    “Well, it’s really up to you, Nicky, about selling the farm. I’d be glad to keep leasing the land in case you want to come back here. But if you’re going to sell, well, I just as soon it be to me. You think about it and let me know. Don’t make a rash decision that you’ll regret.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Jamison. I’ll let you know.”
    Back home, Nicky gave Paul a bath and put him to bed. Barbara had to work late that night and Nicky was asleep on the couch when she finally got home.
    “There’s some chicken if you’re hungry,” Nicky said, pushing herself up.
    Barbara went over and kissed Nicky. “Come sit with me while I eat.”
    Nicky shut off the television and followed Barbara into the kitchen.
    “Ever think about moving?” Nicky said, putting up some coffee.
    “I’d never make you leave. The way you love this place, you’d blame me for ripping you away from here. It wouldn’t be pretty. We’d be separated in a week.”
    “Where would you move if I was willing?”
    “What’s this about?” Barbara said, washing down her chicken with some beer.
    “I was thinking we could use a vacation, and I thought we’d go somewhere interesting.”
    “We could use a vacation,” Barbara said. “This chicken is good. I’d love to go to Maine or Cape Cod. I’ve always wanted to see New Mexico.”
    “The whole town knows we’re dykes.” Nicky was hugging herself tightly. “I’m losing it. I thought about proposing to Andy today.”
    “You are losing it.”
    “I need to protect Paul.”
    “From what?”
    “From someone taking him.” Nicky sat at the table. “Carol-Ann wants to adopt Paul. That’s the other part of the fight we had, and that’s why I told her to leave. Said she’d give him a real home and that Richard was behind it.”
    “Why didn’t you tell