Who is Ben?

Ben is Sarah and Theo's father. He was a very accomplished doctor; in 2010, he is a 74-year-old man who is about to move into a retirement community with his wife, Mimi, who is suffering from dementia. His caring paternal instincts remain as he takes Waldo, a boy across the street with a difficult home life, under his wing. Later on, it is learned that Ben knew (or at least could intuit) that Theo was driving the car on the night of the accident, but he lies to the police to protect his children. He blames himself for Misty's death, too, given that he also moved her body, which he falsely believes is the thing that caused her to die. In general, Ben thinks about things with great detail; even after Mimi's death, he feels her presence in some ways, and his relationship with Waldo keeps her spirit alive within him.