Emily Worth
I hope most readers will relate to Emily Worth when they meet her. She is very much the girl next door, in her mid-thirties, living with her boyfriend, Max, and their adorable dog, Scout, but she has also had her fair share of tragedy to deal with. Her mum and sister died when she was a child, and after reconnecting with her dad, who was absent for much of her life, she is now grieving him too, having just lost him to cancer. Emily loves Max and she knows she hasn’t been faultless in their relationship. They went through a rocky patch when her dad was sick and they are now both making an effort to reconnect. She is kind and humble, but if she has a fault, it’s that she is not always entirely honest with those she loves. All she really wants is to be happy with her little family, but as events spiral and her control slips, paranoia and fear creep in and she doubts if she is strong enough to deal with the threat she is facing.
Connor Banks
Connor Banks is one of the most fascinating characters I have created and he is the only one where I have drawn on true life inspiration. He is a work of fiction, but elements of his personality are very real. When we are first introduced to him it is in Emily’s past and he is volunteering his services keeping terminally ill patients company. It is the bond that Connor has formed with Emily’s dad, Simon, and the kindness he has shown, that first draws her to him, but he is smart and attractive too. Over the coming weeks, as Simon’s condition worsens, Connor makes sure he is there for her. A friend to chat to and a shoulder to cry on if needed. He lost his own mum a few years back, who he was incredibly close to, and she spent time in a hospice. This is why he now volunteers, as he wants to give something back. As the bond between Connor and Emily strengthens so does Connor’s attraction to her and he knows there is something special about her. This is fate. They are supposed to be together. But then he finds out about Max, and when Emily rejects him, she exposes a completely different side of his personality.