Search and Rescue

Coast Guard Masterchief Garrett Thomas eyed the monstrous breaking waves ahead of him, waiting for just the right moment, then jammed the throttles forward and drove straight into the maelstrom. The crew held their breath and hung on tight as the first wave broke over the 44’ surfboat, smothering it in frigid seawater and foam. The bow dutifully rose and broke through the back side of the wave as the surfboat went airborne. Fighting for control, Garrett was back in his element. It had been almost twenty years since he last drove a surfboat, but once a surfman, always a surfman. As he lined up for the next wave, Garrett had a grin on his face worthy of the Cheshire Cat.

Being a Coast Guard surfman was Garrett’s dream job, a job reserved for only the best of the best coxswains. He excelled at it, but time moves on. Garrett finally retired as one of the most decorated heroes in the Coast Guard, having saved hundreds of lives. But civilian life doesn’t suit him well, so he sets off to knock out some bucket list items, like walking the Appalachian Trail, as he sorts out his life. Years ago, he suffered through a catastrophic divorce that robbed him of his daughter and scarred him so badly that he avoided women ever since. But a chance meeting on the trail rekindles his desire for female companionship. Fate takes him in a direction he never imagined as he discovers his new purpose.