One Small Chance: a novella (a Love Story from Portugal) by Lucinda Whitney

from using the air quotes. “My grandmother was, and I joined with her.” Much to her surprise, Isabel had grown to develop her own belief in the new church. A tender, fragile one, but it was her own, and it was still growing. “We always did everything together, and this was important to her, so I did it too. She passed away two months later.”
    “I’m sorry,” he said in a soft voice. “Do you have any other family?”
    She shook her head. “My parents died in a car crash when I was three years old. I was their only child.” Isabel twisted the strap of her purse between her fingers. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.” It was becoming a bad habit, this tendency to open up to him. Something she rarely did with anyone else.
    Simon looked down at his shoes. “My mother—” He hesitated for a moment and then looked back to Isabel. “My mother passed away when I was fifteen.”
    Isabel nodded. They didn’t need to say anything else to know exactly what the other was feeling.
    “That’s a lot of change in such a short period of time.” He continued. “You joined a new church and then you lost your only close family member. Plus, you have such a demanding job.” Simon uncrossed his legs and leaned in her direction. “I think you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
    She didn’t say anything for a moment, as she swallowed the lump in her throat. “That sounds like something Grandmother would have said.”
    Nobody had said anything that nice to her in a long time.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
     
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
     
    Dear Amélie,
    My family thinks I’m bonkers but what else is new, right?
    I do miss London but I’m happy here too. I’m getting over my fear of strangers while trying not to scare the natives. It’s a hard balance, but I’m making progress.
    My new job is going well and my co-workers seem to enjoy my company. If they don’t, they hide it from me. I’m sorry for you that you work with difficult individuals. I know it’s not much fun, believe me.
    Today I walked to the local park and had lunch under a tree. Autumn will be here in a few weeks, but the weather is still nice, and I wanted to enjoy it out-of-doors after a whole week inside. I actually lay on the grass and sunbathed for a little while.
    I had time to think about my family and my life and where I’m going. Do you ever have a moment to stop and think, Amélie? It’s sobering, in a way. It made me realize how small I am in the grand scheme of things, but at the same time I play an important role, especially as I put my hands to use in helping others around me. It reminded me of what you said a few weeks ago.
    What are your plans for the weekend? I should say Sunday since Saturday is almost gone. I miss your day trips. Tell me about the exciting places in Lisbon.
    As always,
    Elliot

     
    * * *
     
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
     
    Dear Elliot,
    My moments to think come in the early morning just before the alarm goes off. I’m barely awake and still clinging to my dreams, and my mind fights running a schedule for the day. I push it off and burrow under the sheets a little longer. That’s when I think. And sometimes I almost pray.
    We must live parallel lives for I too had a week mostly indoors and went out a little bit on the weekend. The weather has been nice here as well. Autumn is pushing its way in and summer is resisting for a while longer, which is fine by me.
    There’s so much to do and see in Lisbon! I’ve lived my whole life here and I never get tired of it. It can be too much in the full summer season with so many tourists around. I really like it when they start going home, which is a bit selfish to say.
    I like to walk in the shopping district and look at the windows. There’s a small store called O Hospital das Bonecas, The Doll Hospital. They fix and clean dolls and stuffed