Divorcée Theresa Osborne, on a vacation at the seaside, finds a love message in a bottle and becomes obsessed with learning the story behind the note.

John Tyree, home on leave from the Army, meets Savannah Curtis, an upper class, straight-laced college student working with Habitat for Humanity in North Carolina, and although their values conflict, the attraction remains strong until the 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. prompt John to re-enlist.