The Caretaker

Set in 1951 Blowing Rock, North Carolina, the story follows Blackburn Gant, a polio survivor and caretaker of a cemetery, who prefers the company of the dead over the living. His life changes when he must look after Naomi Clarke, the outcast wife of his conscripted best friend, Jacob. As they bond over their shared isolation and fear of loss, their relationship deepens amidst community judgment and personal turmoil. The narrative explores themes of friendship, rivalry, and the complexities of love, culminating in a life-altering event.