Much like Nessie of the Loch Ness Monster legend, Chessie is considered a sea monster that was spotted by many in the Chesapeake Bay. In this story, when Chessie is proven to really exist, the will to love again comes back to Robert, a widower and father to a teenage daughter. When a marine biologist, Linda, sets out to save Chessie from being hunted, she and Robert instantly fall in love. But like Chessie, love is nearly extinct these days, tough to find, hard to believe exists, and love dies if you try to keep it in captivity. His attraction to a relationship with Linda poses many obstacles including his relationship with the local watermen and the objections from his teenage daughter. The story takes place in Various parts of Maryland including St. Michaels, the Chesapeake Bay, and Baltimore.