When Beth Robertson's rebellious teenager disappears, the single mother imagines the worst while beginning the search for Emily. Former private investigator Luke Sanders offers to help, introducing to Beth a gentle but firm approach that was unfamiliar to her during her previous marriage to an abusive alcoholic. Beth reluctantly befriends this unchurched man who obviously likes her and who can help find Emily. Beth and her younger daughter Bonnie join Luke as he travels to Southern California, where the three search for clues and work together on a case that turns into an urgent race against time. Beth's admiration of Luke falters when his strikingly beautiful former girlfriend shows up and appears to successfully claim back most of Luke's attention. Beth is soon relying on her faith in God to help her through the complications until she can find Emily and get back to a normal life. As she tries to back out gracefully from any deeper relationship with Luke, Beth realizes she is heading into yet another painful relationship from which there is no escape.