Willa is a highly accommodating woman whose life unfolds across several decades. Conditioned by her mother's volatile outbursts, she spends her adulthood prioritizing the comfort of her husbands and sons over her own ambitions. She sets aside her passion for linguistics to satisfy others, resulting in a quiet life in an Arizona retirement community. When an unexpected phone call arrives, she seizes the chance to feel useful again by flying to Baltimore to care for strangers.

Peter is Willa's second husband, a retired lawyer who is 11 years her senior. He insists on living in an Arizona golfing community, a decision that forces Willa to abandon her teaching career. He relies heavily on Willa to manage his comforts and addresses her with condescending pet names like "little one."

Derek is Willa's first husband. Introduced as a clean-cut, sports-obsessed college student, he possesses a commanding personality and a quick temper. He confidently overrides Willa's desire to finish her linguistics degree, expecting her to follow his career path without question.

Cheryl is a pudgy, sensible nine-year-old girl living on Dorcas Road. Growing up with a single mother, she frequently seeks out older figures to fill the gaps in her family structure. She asks for baking equipment for her birthdays and spends her free time making cookies and biscuits.

Denise is a boisterous single mother who works as an assistant at her daughter's elementary school. She lives in a shabby but cozy house in Baltimore, feeding her daughter mostly processed foods while showering her with affection. She struggles with the painful aftermath of being suddenly left by her boyfriend for a close friend.

Willa's father is an exceptionally mild-mannered man who avoids confrontation at all costs. He enables his wife's abusive behavior by treating her volatility as a quirk, affectionately calling her tempestuous. His unwavering passivity sets a powerful example that shapes Willa's adult personality.

Willa's mother is described as the prettiest, liveliest, and smartest mother at the school. She is also deeply unstable, prone to throwing objects, slapping her children, and storming out of the house for days at a time. She expects her family to act as though nothing happened upon her return.

Erland is a skinny 15-year-old boy living next door to Denise. Lacking parents, he lives with his older stepbrother and struggles to fit in at school. He paces around Dorcas Road with a heavy conscience, trying to perform helpful chores to make up for a terrible mistake.

Ben Gold is a doctor in his sixties who sees elderly and immigrant patients out of his home office on Dorcas Road. Widowed and philosophical, he volunteers at a local church and quickly forms a meaningful intellectual connection with Willa.

Sean is Willa's eldest son. Taking after his father, he is confident, athletic, and largely indifferent to his mother's emotional state. As an adult, he makes impulsive and hurtful decisions in his romantic life, creating a complex web of betrayals that affects his former neighbors.

Elaine is Willa's younger sister. Highly dependent on Willa during their chaotic childhood, she grows up to resent both her parents and her older sibling. As an adult, she uses her early trauma to keep people at a distance, preferring brief, superficial interactions over meaningful connections.

Sir Joe is a local HVAC business owner who wears leather and rides a motorcycle. Despite his tough exterior, he is a responsible and steady presence on Dorcas Road, raising his teenage stepbrother alone and helping his neighbors with physical tasks.

Callie is a practical neighbor living on Dorcas Road. She temporarily takes in Cheryl and the family dog when an accident occurs, demonstrating the tight-knit support system of the street before her work schedule forces her to seek outside help.

Elissa is Sean's prim and polite girlfriend. Formerly a close friend of Denise, she engages in a secret relationship with Sean and moves into an apartment with him. She carefully maintains a facade of marital stability for her former in-laws.

Hal is a neighbor on Dorcas Road dealing with the painful dissolution of his marriage. Left by his wife for another man, he seeks out Denise's company to commiserate over their shared betrayals and newfound single status.

Mrs. Minton is an elderly widow living on Dorcas Road. Facing declining mobility, she relies on her neighbors for help but continues to offer grandmotherly affection to the local children.

Ian is Willa's younger son. As a teenager, he locks himself in his room to play guitar and avoids confronting family tragedies. He grows into an aloof adult who barely communicates with his mother, preferring to maintain ties only with his older brother.

Carl Dexter is a distressed driver going through a painful divorce. Overwhelmed by the loss of his relationship, his distracted driving leads to a devastating accident. He carries immense guilt and actively seeks forgiveness.

Sonya is Willa's childhood best friend. She is more assertive than Willa and frequently relies on Willa's accommodating nature to handle intimidating tasks, like speaking to adults.

Airplane is a well-behaved corgi adopted from an animal shelter. Brought into the family to help Cheryl cope with Sean's sudden departure, the dog provides constant emotional support and walks perfectly without a leash.