Cavedweller

A former blues-rock singer and recovering alcoholic who returns to Cayro after her husband’s death. She battles grief, poverty, and stigma while fighting to regain custody of her daughters. Her resilience and stubborn hope anchor the story as she seeks a new life for herself and her family.

Delia’s ten-year-old daughter who grows into a quiet, observant young woman. She navigates a tense homecoming and forms a subtle bond with a classmate while witnessing her mother’s struggle and the family’s evolving dynamics.

Fourteen-year-old Amanda is devout and cautious, embodying the town’s religious expectations. Her path includes a later marriage to a preacher and the beginnings of her own family as she matures within the pressures of tradition.

Dede is more liberated than her sister, often testing boundaries by smoking and defying rules. She experiences both heartbreak and growth, navigating a tense community and a transformative relationship that deepens her resilience.

The girls’ gravely ill father, whose history of violence casts a shadow over the family. He agrees to transfer custody if Delia moves in to care for him, a deal that binds the family under one roof during his final days.

Delia’s late husband and the former lead of Mud Dog. His death acts as the inciting tragedy that sends Delia back to Cayro and catalyzes the family’s struggles to rebuild their lives.

A stabilizing elder whose wisdom and patience help mediate conflicts. He embodies Southern family tradition and serves as a steadying influence as Delia navigates returning to Cayro.

A stern, puritanical matriarch whose expectations loom large over Delia and the girls. Her moral judgments shape the household and the girls’ upbringing.

A pastor who helps facilitate visits and navigates the church’s role in the custody negotiations. He represents the community’s moral and institutional influence over the family.

A figure in Cayro’s social circle who appears within the town’s scenes, contributing to the social dynamics that surround Delia and her family.

A classmate who introduces Dede to new horizons and harbors unspoken feelings for her. His presence marks a turning point in Dede’s emotional life and personal growth.