Evvie is a young transcriptionist living in coastal Calcasset, Maine. Though the town views her as a mourning recluse grieving a perfect marriage, she privately harbors immense guilt over her secret intent to leave her emotionally abusive husband on the day he died. To maintain the facade and avoid questions, she isolates herself in the small apartment attached to her large, empty house.

Dean is a former star pitcher for the New York Yankees whose career ended abruptly due to a sudden loss of pitching control known as the "yips." Ridiculed by sports media as a "head case," he relocates to Calcasset for a year to find peace away from the public eye. Though he outwardly accepts that his athletic career is over, he privately retains an intense physical drive to throw baseballs.

Andy is a divorced father of two girls and Evvie's most steadfast friend. Following his wife's sudden departure, he rebuilt his life in Calcasset with Evvie's help, returning the favor by supporting her through her husband's death. He remains fiercely protective of his friends and operates as the primary social tether for both Evvie and Dean.

Tim is Evvie's deceased husband, a prominent local physician remembered by Calcasset citizens as a nearly saintly "golden boy." In private, he was emotionally cruel, using his local prestige to demean and control Evvie throughout their marriage. His sudden death in a car accident traps Evvie into playing the role of a grieving widow.

Monica is Andy's new romantic partner. She is observant and practical, quickly becoming a fixture in his life while learning to accommodate the deeply entrenched friendship between Andy and Evvie.

Frank is Evvie's father and a retired lobster fisherman. He raised Evvie as a single parent after his wife left, building a solid but emotionally reserved bond with his daughter. He genuinely believes Evvie had a perfect marriage and frequently praises her strength in grieving Tim.

Dr. Talco is a professional therapist practicing in the area. She provides practical, direct advice, initially refusing to let Evvie use therapy to fix Dean and instead challenging her to address her own emotional avoidance.

Rose is Andy's older daughter. She spends significant time with Evvie, who helps care for her while Andy manages his work and social life.

Lilly is Andy's younger daughter. She is cheerful and openly appreciative of the new people in her father's life, especially Monica.

Eileen is Evvie's estranged mother who fled coastal Maine decades ago. Her sudden departure created a lasting wound for Evvie, who continues to manage her mother's occasional attempts at contact on Eileen's preferred schedule.

Kell is Andy's mother. She is a prominent figure in Calcasset's social scene, maintaining strong opinions about the events in her son's and Evvie's lives.

Stewart is Dean's father. He struggles to separate his son's worth from his athletic achievements, keeping a room entirely dedicated to Dean's past baseball glories.

Lori is Andy's ex-wife. Her abrupt departure from the family forced Andy to adapt to life as a single father, creating a lasting point of tension in his life.

Ted is the baseball coach for the Calcasset High School Hawks. He offers Dean a practical, unpretentious path back to the sport by hiring him as an assistant coach.

Ellen is a tabloid reporter who attempts to exploit Dean's personal struggles for internet clicks, representing the invasive media culture Dean fled.

Ginger is the owner of the Calcasset Claws, a minor league baseball team. She orchestrates the secret inclusion of Dean in an annual exhibition game.

Dr. Schramm is the former boss of Tim Drake. He represents the professional medical community that revered Tim without knowing his true nature.

Marco is the catcher for the Calcasset Claws minor league baseball team. He supports Dean during his secret exhibition game appearance.

Webster is a puppy adopted by Evvie. He represents her first major step toward building a life entirely on her own terms.