Meet the characters of Torn

Main Characters

Nicola "Coley" Carpentier-- she's a divorcee in her 40's who works as the associate editor for a New England newspaper. She has twin daughters who are in college. She becomes involved with two men: one who may be using her to salvage his reputation, but is convinced he truly loves her; the other a man who has been used by women and has been burned by them, so trust doesn't come easy for him in the romance department.

Frank Ryan-- an older man who is a controverial figure in the community. He owns several properties, and has been called every dirty name in the book...in the press; sometimes deserved, sometimes not. He meets Coley when she does a story on him. Pleased with the resulting article, he calls to thank her, and a friendship begins. A couple of years later, they meet again, and Frank tries to convince her that he is the man for her. She would rather remain friends. Their deepening relationship is sparked by an innocent dinner date, she thinks. Turns out Frank may have planned things differently.

Bryan St. John-- a local high school teacher who, as we meet him, is just getting out of a relationship with a much younger, and chronically unfaithful, woman. He meets Coley at a "Creative Retreat", where they find they have much in common besides being creative artisans. He is quite attracted to Coley when they first meet, but knowing the kind of women he attracts, he puts Coley in a position to win his trust, something Coley isn't used to and is not sure she likes. She does, however, give him a chance, hoping she doesn't regret it.

Essential Characters

Micaela Davidson-- The older of Coley's twin daughters. As the story begins, she and her twin Madison have just graduated from high school and are college bound. Miki is headed to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge to major in Communications and Logistics. She is the more outgoing of the two, and thrives on her own at school. She worries about her younger sister, but the girls agreed that when they went to college, that they were going to be individuals, and not known simply as "the Davidson Twins". Miki is very studious and graduates early and gets a job working for a New Orleans television station.

Madison Davidson-- The younger twin, Maddy tends to be shy in new situations, and sometimes, misjudges people and situations. It's this flaw in Maddy's personality that finds her with a man who doesn't respect her, talks bad about her behind her back, cheats on her, eventually impregnates her and denies being the father. She attends Yale University, with a Major in Education Sciences. Maddy ends up leaving school when she becomes pregnant and returns to her mother's house in Andover. She gets back together with her high school boyfriend, Patrick Stephenson, who admits he still cares for her very much and wants to do what's best for her and her unborn child.

Bradley Kilcommon-- Maddy's college boyfriend, Brad is the product of a wealthy family, private school education, and out of date views of women. He snowballs Maddy into a relationship by being everything he thinks she wants. He looks down on her for her public school education and the fact that her parents are divorced, and badmouths her to his group of wealthy friends. Maddy is unaware of Brad's true colors until she learns he is cheating on her, and then he swears that the other girls mean nothing to him. He continues to cheat, however. When Maddy finds herself pregnant, Brad accuses her of sleeping around and denies he's the father of her child. He them spreads the word around campus that Maddy is a slut, and the embarassment of having to defend herself drives Maddy to leave school. After the child is born, a DNA test proves that Brad is the father and is ordered to pay child support and to pay for Maddy to finish her education.

Patrick James Stephenson-- He first met Maddy at Haverhill High when they were sophomores and dated until they left for colleges in different states. They lose touch until they are 21, when Maddy comes home from Yale after discovering she is pregnant and dumped by the baby's father. Pat has also come home from school due to the sudden death of his father to take over the family business. He senses that Maddy has a lot on her mind and encourages her to trust him with anything. She tells him of her pregnancy, thinking that he'll not have anything to do with her. Pat surprises her by telling Maddy that he still had very strong feelings for her. He wants what is best for Maddy and tells her that, and if that meant raising another man's child, then he's willing to do it. Pat takes a lot of grief from his friends and some family for this stance, but he holds his ground; he loves Maddy and he will do what's best for both of them. They marry and finish college together locally. After Maddy's baby girl is born, she sues Brad for child support after a DNA test proves he is baby Nicola's father.