Raymer and Dougie
“Dougie” is what Raymer calls the voice in his head that he begins to hear after he’s struck by lightning. It’s never quite clear if Dougie is a manifestation of Raymer’s subconscious, a medical symptom of having been struck by lightning, or both.
Dougie is in many ways Raymer’s opposite, urging him in a direction that Raymer would never pursue of his own volition. He pushes Raymer to acknowledge that Jerome was having an affair with Becka. Since Dougie is a nickname that Jerome, and Jerome only, uses for Raymer, it seems likely that, on some level, Raymer knew that his wife had been seeing Jerome all along.
It’s worth noting that Dougie, who has a growly voice and handles a deadly snake with his bare hands, is absurdly masculine. His presence signals that Raymer is finally ready to work through the way in which he felt emasculated by Becka’s betrayal. After a year of grieving his wife and his marriage, he finally moves on by admitting his feelings for Charice.
Ruth, Zack, and Sully
Long ago, Ruth, who is married to Zack, had a lengthy affair with Sully, after which they remained friends. This love triangle is important because it drives the characterization of Zack, who knew about the relationship. His genuine friendship with Sully lends credibility to his claim that he killed Roy Purdy in self-defense instead of out of revenge.
Raymer, Becka, and Jerome
Raymer knows that Becka was having an affair when she died; what he doesn’t know is that the man she was seeing is Jerome. Raymer’s quest to determine the identity of his wife’s lover is part of what drives the plot. After Raymer learns that the man was Jerome, he forgives him, which is a sure sign of his personal growth.