Nadia Turner
Nadia begins the narrative as a teenager dealing with the suicide of her mother. The consequence of this traumatic incident is a downward spiral at school performance, aimless bus rides around Oceanside, and, inevitably, getting involved with a different class of guy. The surprise reveal here is that “different class” doesn’t translate into shady drug dealer with an appetite for domestic abuse for a welcome change of pace.
Luke Sheppard
That different class of guy in this case goes in an entirely direction: the 21-year-old preacher’s son. Because of the potential for legal troubles inherent in the otherwise meaningless age gap between the two, Luke presses Nadia to keep their relationship secret. And then proceeds to impregnate her. He claims to support her decision to abort the baby but it is worth nothing that Luke is the preacher’s son.
Aubrey Evans
Luke’s eventual wife is initially a stranger who quickly becomes Nadia’s closest confidante. Her somewhat mysterious past is made alluring to Nadia by her living circumstances: housemate to Aubrey’s sister and the sister’s girlfriend. That things have gone south for Luke and Nadia is established by which of the pair becomes his missus, but even disagreements over abortion isn’t even enough to douse some passionate fires.
Robert Turner
Robert is Nadia’s father and surviving husband of a wife driven to suicide. Somewhat like Nadia—but mostly not like her at all—Robert also turns to the church for comfort. His comfort arrives not in human form, however, but having a place to go to where he can get away from the constant reminder of the past which have led to the present circumstances of his existence. The chasm which grows between Nadia and her father due to his absence becomes even more treacherous with his negative reaction to her abortion.
