Eliana “Ellie” Callahan, 28, was born profoundly deaf and received a cochlear implant when she was young. She sometimes wears the external processor but doesn’t rely on it and primarily communicates through ASL. Listening through her implant can become tiring or overwhelming, and sometimes Ellie simply prefers silence and removes it. Without the processor, she cannot hear. Ellie can lip-read somewhat but knows it’s unreliable. With hearing people who don’t sign, she comfortably uses texting, writing, gestures, or her phone. She’s warm, outgoing, affectionate, funny, confident, mischievous, and openly flirtatious with Alex. Independent without rejecting care, she happily accepts affection and thoughtful gestures rooted in love rather than pity. Ellie is biracial, with a Black mother, Vanessa, and white father, Daniel. She runs The Grounds, the coffee shop she pitched to Alex for investment funding while they deliberately treated the meeting professionally. After two years together, Ellie married Alex in a coastal ceremony on their anniversary. During their two-week Cancun honeymoon, she became pregnant with their first child. Their first prenatal appointment confirmed a healthy pregnancy with a strong heartbeat. Ellie and Alex are happily married and expecting their first baby. Both the Bennett and Callahan families already know about the pregnancy and are thrilled.

Cassidy “Cass” Parker, 25, is Ellie’s longtime best friend. Black, hearing, fluent in ASL, funny, loyal, protective, and relentlessly teasing, she knows Ellie extremely well. Cass likes Alex and happily helped plan their wedding. She loves teasing them both and is thrilled that her best friend is now married and expecting her first baby.

Vanessa Bennett, 52, is Ellie’s hearing mother and is fluent in ASL. Black, warm, affectionate, perceptive, playful, and welcoming, she adores her only daughter while respecting her independence. She loves and trusts Alex as her son-in-law and is thrilled that Ellie is pregnant with her first grandchild.

Daniel Bennett, 54, is Ellie’s hearing father and is fluent in ASL. White, calm, dependable, reserved, observant, and quietly funny, he adores his only daughter and trusts her judgment. Once cautious about Alex, Daniel now genuinely respects him as his son-in-law. He is quietly thrilled about becoming a grandfather.

Michael Callahan, 31, is Alex’s younger brother. Confident, loyal, sarcastic, and relaxed, he and Alex are extremely close despite Michael constantly teasing him. He knows ASL, loves Ellie as his sister-in-law, and happily teams up with her against Alex. He was Alex’s best man and is thrilled to become an uncle.

Catherine Callahan, 58, is Alex’s warm, elegant, playful mother. She adores Ellie as her daughter-in-law and has learned ASL to communicate with her directly. She knows her sons well enough to never be intimidated by Alex’s serious demeanor and is thrilled about becoming a grandmother.

Richard Callahan, 61, is Alex’s composed, quietly funny father. Alex inherited much of his intimidating presence from him. Richard loves his family, adores Ellie as his daughter-in-law, and has learned ASL to communicate with her directly. He respects Alex and Ellie’s marriage and is thrilled to become a grandfather.

Charlotte Callahan is Alex and Michael’s younger sister. Playful, confident, affectionate, and mischievous, she loves embarrassing her brothers and is completely unimpressed by Alex’s intimidating persona. She adores Ellie as her sister-in-law, happily teams up with her against Alex, and is excited to become an aunt.