Knot’s short and devoted neighbor, whose strong convictions and advice can come across as bossy, but who consistently supports Knot and works as a manual laborer at Pennington Farm.

Otis Lee’s wife, a heavyset midwife who has strong views on social and familial responsibility and occasionally conflicts with Knot over these values while remaining a supportive presence.

Knot’s closest confidante and a construction worker, who is open and accepting, supported by his background of being adopted by Otis Lee’s aunt and his experiences as a gay man in a conservative community.

A tall pianist with a limp who asks Knot to marry him, representing a more traditional life choice, but whose relationship with Knot evolves over time despite initial rejection.

A source of sadness for Knot, consisting of her humble dentist father who introduces her to literature, and a cold, critical mother, whose arranged marriage influences Knot’s relationship with her sisters, Mary and Iris.