Larry is a highly successful corporate lawyer who lives a financially comfortable but emotionally isolated life. He wears expensive suits, employs multiple assistants, and dedicates most of his time and energy to his demanding career. Despite his professional achievements, he maintains physical and emotional distance from his remaining family and lacks close friends. His memories frequently drift back to his childhood on a Nebraska farm, where he shared a protective bond with his younger sister.

Katrina is Larry's younger sister, affectionately known as Kitty during their childhood. Growing up on the family's Nebraska farm, she is a fearless, trusting, and sweet-natured girl with blonde pigtails and deep blue eyes. She holds an unshakeable faith in her older brother and the safety of the world around her. As an adult, her life path diverges significantly from her brother's, leading her through difficult marriages and personal struggles in Los Angeles, causing her to reach out to Larry for support.

The father of Larry and Katrina begins as a hardworking and prosperous farmer in Nebraska. A strict parent, he enforces discipline on the farm and focuses heavily on providing for his family, sometimes ignoring necessary maintenance like replacing a broken ladder. Following the loss of the farm, he pivots to selling tractors and steadily climbs the corporate ladder to become a successful dealership manager.

Larry and Katrina's mother is a quiet but vital presence during their early childhood on the farm. She frequently worries about the children's safety and repeatedly asks her husband to fix the broken ladder in the barn. Her early death creates a profound void in the family structure.

Helen is Larry's ex-wife. During their marriage, she took on the responsibility of managing domestic affairs, including family correspondence, serving as Larry's primary social link to his relatives. Since their divorce, their communication is limited to brief and impersonal Christmas cards.

He is a beauty contest judge who marries Katrina shortly after she graduates from high school. Their marriage ultimately ends in a difficult divorce, prompting Katrina to write to her brother for support.

The president of a large company who retains Larry's legal services. He describes Larry as his hired gun, viewing the lawyer as a highly effective tool for his corporate needs rather than as a complete person.