The cast of “Lin Finity And Her Mayhem Rising” seemed large enough to tell the tale. We had Lin and Gabby, Ben and Luanne. Jack, of course, and Doc and his sidekick Ivan. Arnie made an appearance and then a quick exit. And I almost forgot Nomad. Couldn’t have a good story without him.
And the story rolled along, with Lin braving everything the world threw at her, plus some things erupting from inside her. Yet about three-quarters of the way through the story, when Lin waited for her flight in a restaurant in a Jacksonville airport, someone new involved herself. Well, actually I involved her.
Lee walked past Lin, with her boyfriend tagging along, and they took a seat a couple of tables over. By this point in the book, we suspect that Lin might not be impressed by nearly anyone. She’d learned a lot and changed her perspective over the chapters, and her view of the world had become strikingly different from ours. And still, Lee made an impression:
“Tight faded denim stretched over her thighs showed she’d paid her dues at the gym. Her long black hair hung straight down, and the heels of her black snakeskin boots punctuated each solid, confident step.
“But Lin noticed most the look of determination in her eyes. She’d never looked directly in Lin’s direction, but Lin could see a strength there. Lin knew the woman had faced demons and conquered them.”
Okay, she’s in good shape. That’s not too unusual – a lot of people hit the gym, watch their diet, and aspire to whatever ideal they hold in their mind. But Lee isn’t just a fit woman. Lin’s good at reading people’s eyes, so I know that if Lin saw something special there, it was there.
If you’ve read the book, you know what happened not long after Lee’s entry. Well, it’s not something that just “happened” – it’s what Lin did. And things didn’t go exactly as Lin would have guessed. Lee turned out to be something different, something Lin hadn’t encountered before, and she made a quick decision to get the heck out of there.
Lee makes only one other appearance, and it’s at the very end of the last chapter. In case you haven’t read the book, there are no spoilers here. I’ll only restate what Lin saw:
“From the restaurant parking lot another figure walked out to the sidewalk and stood beside Jack. The northeast wind blew her long, black hair around her face, hiding her identity. The car’s brake lights reflected off her mirrored sunglasses, giving her an unreal appearance against the reality behind her.”
It seems pretty obvious that Lee hasn’t added much to the plotline. But there she is, making an impression, confounding Lin in a couple of ways, and making clear that she’s someone apart from the rest.
Have you ever met anyone like that? It might be someone you remember anchored in a memory from long ago. Or a woman you passed on the street just days ago, and though you didn’t have time to scrounge for any clues as she walked past, you knew that she was special. Or…could she be the type of person you wish you could meet – an individual standing out against the bland monotony of the masses, a woman (or man) who you can’t define? A light that might be tiny and almost lost in the world’s grayness, but when your eyes lock on that light, it burns in deep. And you remember.
Lee is that person. Lin learned that right away in Jacksonville. She couldn’t understand why “things” didn’t go as they had before. And the circumstances of her appearing the way she did in the last chapter raise even more questions. Why was she there?
It’s too soon to say. I will admit that Lee has a much larger role in Book Two, “Lin Finity And The Words Unspoken.”
Who wouldn’t be fascinated by someone like Lee? I know I am. Lee’s the type that carries a quiet mystery draped around her like a shawl that you can’t take your eyes off of, but you don’t know exactly why. You just notice that you’re seeing an uncommon person, someone that has quite a story to tell.
But Lee probably wouldn’t tell you, no matter how nicely you asked. Even if you were bold enough to ask her. My guess is that she keeps her secrets close, and unless you have something distinctive to offer in return, she won’t share. She’s likely still on a journey of some kind, and if she doesn’t sense that you can help her in some way…good luck. Best to let her pass and be happy you crossed her path.
But why is Lee in the story? It’s hard to say. For a reader, I mean. I could say. But I won’t. We’ll all have to wait for Book Two – “Lin Finity And The Words Unspoken.”
But I will say that I do know someone like Lee. I don’t think she has black snakeskin boots, though. Maybe soon…