Bye, Baby

Cassie is the second protagonist of the novel and Billie’s foil. Although the characters are the same age and both grew up in Red Hook, their appearance, lifestyle, and values starkly contrast. Cassie presents a carefully curated version of herself, leading Billie to compare her to “a brunette Barbie doll” (9). Her artificiality is emphasized by her naturally “frizzy” hair, which is always straightened and sleek. Cassie’s preoccupation with her image reflects her role as a social media influencer and her attitude toward Class and Social Mobility. The importance Cassie places on the outward trappings of wealth is illustrated in her designer jewelry and penthouse apartment in Gramercy, Manhattan—one of the most upscale areas of New York.

Cassie is frequently selfish and egotistical, but Lovering portrays her as a complex character with redeeming traits. During her childhood, she is a supportive friend to Billie. Meanwhile, in adulthood, Cassie is a devoted mother who “radiates love and tenderness” for her baby daughter (277). The trauma of Ella’s kidnapping prompts an epiphany in Cassie, and she briefly casts off her fixation on status and outward appearances. However, while Cassie’s character undergoes change as a result of her experiences, she reverts to her shallow lifestyle once the impact of her trauma has passed, indicating that the lessons she learns are fleeting.

Billie’s mother is a dental nurse who becomes a single parent when her husband leaves her for another woman. Lorraine is depicted as a loving mother who is close to her daughter but shows poor judgment in her choice of men. Her introduction of her boyfriend, Wade, into a formerly happy household, coincides with the first symptoms of her early-onset Alzheimer’s. The effects of the disease leave her unable to see the signs of Wade’s predatory behavior or protect her daughter from sexual abuse.

Lorraine’s mental deterioration plays a crucial role in Billie’s formative years. Her death is preceded by a slow erosion of her identity, leading Billie to experience a double loss. Cassie’s close relationship with Lorraine during their childhood makes her the only person in Billie’s life who knew her mother before her illness. Billie’s determination to cling to Cassie’s friendship is motivated, in part, by a desire to hold on to the memory of her mother as she once was.

Billie’s lecherous stepfather, Wade, is the antagonist of the novel’s early storyline. His sexually threatening presence creates narrative tension as Billie’s powerlessness to defend herself from him is exacerbated by her mother’s illness.

Wade’s death serves as the climactic moment of the backstory. The circumstance of his fatal fall also complicates Billie and Cassie’s friendship. The friends are united by concealing the truth of what really happened, and Billie feels indebted to Cassie for saving her from her stepfather’s abuse. In adulthood, the memory of Wade’s death continues to impact Billie and Cassie. While Billie recalls the event as proof of Cassie’s loyalty to her, Cassie tries to erase the incident from her memory.

Cassie’s husband is a hedge fund manager from old money. A relatively flat character, his key role is to illustrate his wife’s preoccupation with Class and Social Mobility. Cassie’s first thought when meeting Grant is that his “pedigree [is] top-notch, unbeatable” (117). Her instant attraction to him is based on the wealth and status he represents. Marriage to Grant gives Cassie everything she craved—a Manhattan penthouse apartment, a beach house in St. Barts, and a baby. Nevertheless, Cassie frequently has to remind herself that Grant is the means by which she has achieved her dreams. Her variable sentiments toward Grant echo Lovering’s exploration of The Shifting Dynamics of Friendship. The author emphasizes the fluctuating nature of human relationships as Cassie alternates between feeling “empty of love” for Grant and a renewed appreciation of him (115).

Cassie describes Billie’s boyfriend, Alex, as “the type of guy who could’ve gone to our high school” (95). Cassie considers this a shortcoming, implying that Alex is ordinary and unlikely to offer Billie a lavish lifestyle. However, Alex’s lack of pretensions and essential decency are the qualities that attract Billie to him. The couple shares similar values, finding reward in their work rather than social status. Alex is, therefore, confused by Billie’s friendship with class-obsessed Cassie.

Alex’s character illustrates The Consequences of Concealing the Truth. Billie’s failure to tell Alex she does not want children repeats the pattern of her former relationship with Remy. The omission leads her to create emotional barriers in the relationship as she fears Alex will reject her. Billie's deceit over the kidnapping is a further obstacle to the couple’s intimacy. Alex’s job as a police officer adds narrative tension to the novel, increasing the stakes when he discovers Billie’s secret.

Billie’s boss and friend is the founder of the boutique travel agency The Path. Married to Sasha, Jane, like Billie, lives an authentic life without bowing to other people’s expectations. While recognizing that she and Jane are “kindred spirits,” Billie fails to realize that Jane has replaced Cassie as her best friend. Significantly, Jane is the only person Billie tells the truth to after abducting Ella, illustrating that their relationship is built on honesty. Jane acts as the voice of reason in Billie’s life, pointing out the unbalanced nature of her relationship with Cassie and the difference in their values. Jane’s move to a new apartment in the same building as Cassie serves a crucial role in the novel’s plot, providing the circumstances that prompt Ella’s kidnapping.

Grant’s cousin McKay is blonde, beautiful, and privileged, making her the “It Girl” in Cassie’s year group at Harvard. She represents the theme of Class and Social Mobility as Cassie’s aspirational role model. Cassie’s desperation “to make [her] way into [McKay’s] inner circle” illustrates the societal pressures that accompany trying to transcend one’s social class (130). Cassie’s pursuit of the initially disinterested McKay mirrors Billie’s attempts to renew her intimacy with Cassie. McKay is depicted as an entitled snob who initially shuns Cassie when she learns her family moved from Greenwich to the less exclusive village of Red Hook.

McKay is Billie’s rival and antagonist in the novel, and her suspicions play a key role in exposing the truth about Ella’s disappearance. Her replacement of Billie as Cassie’s best friend is symbolized in her role as maid of honor at Cassie’s wedding. However, Cassie’s irritation with McKay after Ella’s kidnapping suggests that their relationship is based on shared social values rather than an intimate connection.

Billie’s first boyfriend, Remy, is an artist and life drawing model. Cassie’s dismissive description of Remy as “that nude model who looks like the reincarnation of Jesus” ironically captures his character’s attributes (219). Billie is attracted to his gentle manner and vulnerability, which starkly contrast with the toxic masculinity of her stepfather. Remy’s willingness to pose naked in front of an art class introduces Billie to a non-threatening form of masculinity. His character is a healing influence on Billie’s development, helping her overcome her fear of sexual relationships. Billie’s memories of her relationship with Remy also illustrate her tendency to conceal difficult truths. Her failure to tell Remy she does not want children for several years makes their eventual breakup more painful.