Katharyn “Kitty” Miller

Katharyn “Kitty” Miller is the main character and narrator of the novel. She is a single woman who is working at a book store with her best friend when she puts a personal ad in the newspaper. She talks on the phone to Lars Andersson, one of the men who answered the ad. Before they hang up Katharyn, as she is calling herself at this point in her life, realizes that Lars is having a heart attack. She gets him medical attention and he survives. The two are married and have triplets.

Lars is an architect. He personally builds a good deal of the custom house in which they live. Lars is characterized as an ideal husband and father. He is particularly good with Michael, their autistic son.

In Kitty’s alternate life, in which she remains single and continues to work with Frieda in the...