Gareth Van Meer is the father of Blue Van Meer, and widower of Natasha Alicia Van Meer, Blue's mother. Gareth is a womanizer, intensely intelligent and insightful, and an on-again, off-again drinker of bourbon. Since the death of Natasha and the success of one of his books, Gareth has moved himself and Blue around the country, working as a visiting professor. He has taken great care to educate his daughter in all subjects, and proves to be a confident and stabilizing force in Blue's life. Indeed, Blue idolizes him. Superficially, Gareth and Natasha appeared to have a very close relationship as a married couple.
When Gareth discovers that Blue has found out about Hannah Schneider's past, Gareth realizes that she may soon be on to him. Gareth is, in reality, a member of the left wing terrorist group known as the Nightwatchmen who at one time may have had an affair or been in love with Hanna Schneider. This in turn may have meant that Natasha's car accident was actually suicide. Gareth packs up and leaves without a word to Blue, leaving behind only a trust fund in her name.
