This Could Be Us

Judah, the novel’s second protagonist and narrator, is the love interest for Soledad. A forensic accountant at CalPot, he investigates discrepancies in Edward’s expenses and eventually uncovers Edward’s embezzlement of nearly $6 million. Judah is methodical, meticulous, patient, smart, dogged, and very good at his job.

Judah is over six feet tall. Soledad describes him as handsome, “with skin the color of burnt umber stretched over features constructed of steel and stone” (21). She notices his striking appearance first, but as she gets to know him, she also discovers that he is “fit, successful, single. Kind and brilliant” (172). He’s steady and unexcitable; Soledad is attracted to his strength of character and quiet confidence: “It would be so tempting to lean on him when times are hard because a man like him will always be harder. Judah would be a wall, a fortress. A shelter. He’s the kind of man you can count on” (146).

Judah is an involved and patient parent, willing to sacrifice whatever is needed to help and support his sons, who have autism. He also shares some of their autism-associated traits, such as disliking crowded gatherings, sometimes feeling overwhelmed by sounds or sensations, and hating tags in his clothing. These tendencies help him relate to his sons, allowing him to better understand their development by maintaining familiar routines or interceding when one is having a meltdown.

Judah is immediately attracted to Soledad but is willing to wait for as long as she needs to start a relationship with her. He is also an attentive and generous lover, who enjoys bringing Soledad pleasure. While he and his ex-wife, Tremaine, were good partners and have remained good friends, the passion Judah feels with Soledad is something new. His character journey in the novel involves falling in love for the first time, learning about his creative impulses, and being inspired by Soledad in ways that support her.

Edward is Soledad’s husband at the beginning of the novel and serves as the antagonist. His crime sets in motion the events that connect Judah and Soledad, and his character serves as a foil to Judah. Whereas Judah is honest and forthright, Edward is a thief who is embezzling money and a liar who has been cheating on Soledad. He is a selfish, narcissistic man who has been having a relationship with his secretary, Amber, for two years when Judah discovers evidence of the money Edward has stolen. After the FBI arrests Edward, Soledad learns about his infidelity when her doctor diagnoses her with a sexually transmitted infection. Edward doesn’t appreciate the unpaid domestic labor that Soledad does around the home but feels proud when he thinks that other people admire his wife.

Edward is not a very involved or attentive parent to his daughters, eventually abandoning them altogether when he flees the country with Amber, the son they’ve had together, and the rest of the money he managed to hide. This means that he can’t return to the country to be in contact with his daughters, or with Soledad, which shows how little he cares for them. Edward is also the locus for the novel’s discussion of colorism. He and his family of origin are white; his mother, Oneida, expresses a preference for her granddaughter Lupe, whose skin is lighter in color than that of her sisters, Inez and Lottie, who look more like Soledad. One of the ways Soledad reclaims her autonomy and sense of self is by standing up to Oneida’s bias.

Hendrix is one of Soledad’s two best friends and is a support system and foil for Soledad. Hendrix is a beautiful and unapologetically outspoken, headstrong Black woman who takes pride in her Blackness. She is a manager for entertainment clients and lives well, enjoying what she calls the “rich Black girl” aesthetic. Hendrix is generous and loves to give gifts to her loved ones; she helps pay Soledad’s mortgage and brings lavish gifts for her girls for Christmas. She also takes care of the girls while Soledad is visiting her sisters in South Carolina.

Hendrix’s role in the book is mainly to encourage Soledad to believe in herself and support her in building her business, which Hendrix does by delivering Soledad’s homemade focaccia, distributing flyers about the Harvest Festival dinner, and getting Soledad partnerships with important influencers. Hendrix’s advice for Soledad to pursue her pleasures prompts Soledad to have sex with Judah. Hendrix’s stories about her failed dating experiences also provide comedy, as no one lives up to her high standards, reminding Soledad to demand the best for herself.

Judah’s ex-wife, Tremaine, serves as another foil for Soledad. She is like Soledad in that, as a mother, she is fearless and intentional about advocating for her children. She is involved with their school; because her sons have special needs, Tremaine is tireless about making sure their caregivers and teachers know how to meet their needs. An intelligent, ambitious, motivated, successful woman who has built her legal career while taking care of her sons and her home, Tremaine shows Judah what is possible when she falls in love with and marries Kent.

Judah’s friendly partnership with his ex-wife demonstrates his maturity in relationships, which he brings to his interactions with Soledad. Tremaine appreciates Judah’s good qualities, but she offers helpful, if unsolicited, commentary. For instance, she notes that his focus and discipline could be called autistic tendencies. She helps Judah gain greater awareness of himself and encourages him to pursue love when he finds it.