Victoria “Vix” Leonard

Victoria “Vix” Leonard is the main character and heroine of the novel. Her mother insisted on calling her by her full first name “Victoria,” while others called her “Vix,” a nickname that her mother said brought to mind a cough remedy. Gus, the man she eventually married, called Victoria “Cough Drop” up until Caitlin's wedding when the two began dating.

Victoria came from a middle class family that struggled to make ends meet. She thought her life was changing for the best when Caitlin Somers, a new girl in school, invited her to spend the summer with her and her family on the Vineyard. Being friends with Caitlin did afford Vix some opportunities that she would not have had access to on her own. Caitlin's stepmother arranged for Vix to get a scholarship to a private school so Vix could get a better education. She also...