Alice is a 34-year-old widow adjusting to life after the recent death of her wealthy husband in a car accident. Living in an expansive, fully redecorated home, she struggles with everyday tasks and the overwhelming grief of her loss. Believing herself to be pregnant, she is easily flustered by the demands of maintaining her household and often relies on her quirky personal preferences for comfort.

Grant is Alice's 38-year-old late husband who supposedly died in a single-car accident two weeks before the story begins. To the outside world, he appeared to be the perfect, attentive partner who provided Alice with a life of luxury and comfort. However, his insistence on controlling aspects of Alice's life, such as her wardrobe and career, hints at a more complex dynamic behind closed doors.

Poppy is Alice's upbeat, loyal next-door neighbor and closest confidante. She frequently checks on Alice, bringing her tea and homemade food in an effort to soothe her grief. Despite their physical proximity and frequent interactions, Poppy often seems unaware of Alice's true preferences and the deeper realities of her friend's marriage.

Marnie is a woman who unexpectedly arrives at Alice's home with a shocking claim about her relationship with Grant. Living in a much less affluent neighborhood, she is determined to secure financial support for her large household of children. She is resourceful and persuasive, using photographs and emotional appeals to convince Alice of her story.

Brant is a man who abruptly enters Alice's orbit following the death of her husband. He shares an uncanny number of quirky preferences with Alice, from a love of fast food and the band Nickelback to a mutual disdain for pennies and tea. His sudden appearance and deep interest in Alice introduce new complications as she processes her grief.

Willie is the attractive twenty-something housekeeper employed by the Lockwoods. Known for doing his chores shirtless, he has a troubled past and a criminal record that made Grant deeply suspicious of him. Willie maintains a flirtatious demeanor while working around the house, adding a layer of discomfort to Alice's domestic routine.

Eliza is an elderly woman who previously worked as Grant's secretary. She is highly inquisitive and lacks boundaries, freely offering unsolicited advice and physically reaching into Alice's shopping cart to inspect her purchases. Her profound admiration for her former boss makes her interactions with the newly widowed Alice both awkward and intrusive.

Detective Mancini is an older investigator assigned to look into the circumstances surrounding Grant's death. Clad in a classic trench coat, he projects a cordial, somewhat bumbling demeanor that masks his sharp investigative instincts. He asks pointed questions about Grant's potential enemies while maintaining a polite, old-fashioned charm.

Rebertha is Grant's first wife, who reportedly died in a tragic accident before he met Alice. Her lingering presence in the Lockwood household is felt primarily through the mysterious locked attic space, where Grant insists on storing her leftover possessions.