October is the central character of the story, and of course the title character.  All the events within it coalesce around her.  And she changes the lives of the other characters permanently.

So who is October?

She is a twenty-two-year-old girl who shows up one morning in Pleasanton Baptist church with her aunt and uncle.  She stands out, but in a way that seems perfectly natural--long red hair, elegant posture, crystal green eyes, and clothes almost old-fashioned but modern enough to not seem anachronistic.

She is shy and quiet, preferring to keep to herself or be with very close friends.  Yet she also shows unexpected boldness at times.  It's just one part of the puzzle that Emily can't quite put together--an enigma of confidence and vulnerability.  She is caring and deeply 

thoughtful, but doesn't seem to have any particular passion in life.  

She loves stories, loves people, loves God, and loves nature.  She doesn't have a job or go to school.  She never hints how long she'll be in town or why she came.

She may be an anomaly, but she teaches Emily to find pictures in the clouds and in the stars, to revel in the magic of ordinary things, to find empathy for people who can sometimes go unnoticed.

She seems perfect.  Except for those moments when Emily catches a glimpse of something deeper—a dark cloud over an otherwise glorious soul.  Why?  What is October hiding?