A 29-year-old writer for *The Bergen Record* who authors an advice column. She finds herself unexpectedly pregnant out of wedlock, a situation that challenges her Irish Catholic family's traditions. Independent and accustomed to casual romantic encounters, she decides to keep and raise her child despite receiving no support from the baby's father.

The 79-year-old matriarch of the McLaughlin family living in an assisted living facility. A stoic, devout Catholic of Irish descent, she raised nine children and rarely displays emotion. She possesses an inherited supernatural ability to see apparitions of her late relatives, which often distracts her from the present moment.

A 27-year-old medical student with a photographic memory who consistently ranks at the top of her class. Despite her academic brilliance, she lacks patience for patients and hospital politics, leading her to question her career path. An atheist in a highly religious family, she struggles to connect with others on an emotional level.

The owner of a construction and real estate company, married into the McLaughlin family. He carries immense trauma and guilt following the workplace death of a young crewmate named Eddie. This grief causes him to isolate himself from his wife, communicating poorly despite his fierce loyalty to his extended family.

The 56-year-old oldest living child of the McLaughlin family and the boss of her own company. She harbors deep resentment over carrying the emotional and managerial weight of her large family for decades. Frustrated by her husband's emotional distance, she begins secretly renting a motel room to escape her responsibilities and explore her own desires.

A 34-year-old nurse at Valley Hospital and the widow of Eddie Ortiz. Raising her children alone, she copes with her grief by dedicating herself to nursing and becoming somewhat overprotective of her kids. Raised in a large Irish family, she abandoned her heritage after her prejudiced mother shunned her for marrying a Mexican immigrant.

Catharine's late husband and the former patriarch of the McLaughlin family. A charismatic Irish American who provided well for his family, he also possessed the ability to see visions and apparitions, a trait he seemingly passed on to Catharine upon his death ten years prior.

One of Kelly's younger sisters. She frequently clashes with Kelly and is highly concerned with the family's reputation and moral standing. Disapproving of Gracie's situation, she forcefully suggests that Gracie should give the baby to their brother Johnny to raise.

The youngest McLaughlin sibling, who struggles with severe, untreated mental illness. He lives in squalor, distrusts modern medicine, and holds extreme religious views, relying entirely on his family for basic housing and survival.

Gracie's editor at *The Bergen Record* and her former boyfriend. Despite their breakup, he continues to support her professionally and personally, stepping in with offers of stability when he learns of her pregnancy.

A volunteer firefighter and assistant to the mayor who has a brief, casual relationship with Gracie. Still attached to his ex-girlfriend Margaret, he reacts poorly to the news of the pregnancy, denying responsibility and fleeing the situation.

A firefighter and Joel's confident best friend. He claims to have psychic intuition and pursues a casual relationship with Lila, challenging her rigid, logic-based worldview with his open, passionate nature.

The mayor of Ramsey and a local barber who lost his wife to cancer the previous year. He considers Louis a good friend but becomes increasingly entangled with Kelly when she seeks him out for advice regarding her husband's depression.

The second oldest living McLaughlin child. Despite suffering physical abuse from his father as a child, he maintains a calm, easygoing nature that makes him a favorite among the younger generation of the family.

One of the McLaughlin siblings. He and his wife struggle with infertility, leading other family members to suggest they step in to raise Gracie's unexpected child to preserve the family image.

Johnny's wife. Though she longs for a child and is brought along by Meggy to persuade Gracie into an internal family adoption, she remains genuinely kind and supportive toward Gracie regardless of her decision.

A hardworking Mexican immigrant on Louis's construction crew who died after accidentally falling off a roof. His death heavily impacts Louis's mental state and disrupts the Leary family dynamics.

A fellow medical student who frequently clashes with Lila. She is highly critical of Lila's poor bedside manner, lack of communication skills, and general impatience with the human element of medicine.