Blindsided: Who Saw That Coming?

By Carrie L. Garrison

About the Book
Cara travels through a labyrinth of heartbreak, a web of deceit, and the road to survival and hope throughout her four different relationships. These four men have touched her life, changed her, and taught her how to be a survivor. Follow along as Cara channels resilience, faith, and pure strength to get beyond the infidelity and distrust to love herself again.

About the Author
Carrie L. Garrison is a single mom of two beautiful, grown sons: Maxmillian and Jack. The past two years of her life have presented her with unmitigated challenges and a life-changing heartbreak that made way for the best version of herself. She currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, where you can almost always find her in a gym or at the beach when she is not at her computer writing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: Mar 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887296708

Book preview

PART 1

BITTERSWEET

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You just never know who you will meet.

1

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Sam, Myrtle Beach

March 2013

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The voice on the other end sounded foreign to her. Hello?

Hi there! I just landed and am getting in a cab now. I should be there in thirty minutes or so.

Great, he said. Can’t wait to see you. Room number 226. Come up on the first set of elevators on the left.

Okay, perfect. I will check in, and then come up. See you soon!

Cara pressed the screen on her phone to end the call and was surprised by how sweaty her hands were. Was she totally crazy? This was a big risk, taking this trip, but something she knew she needed to do. She was meeting him at the Myrtle Beach Hilton. She had suggested the trip herself to him. She needed to get away from everyone, everything and clear her head. It took every cent she had to make it happen, too. She had planned every detail meticulously, the clothing, the shoes, jewelry, hair, right down to the nail polish. Everything had to go perfectly and be perfect on her end.

She had gone over silly things in her head countless times: her entrance into the hotel, how she would knock on the room door, how she would stand when he answered, it went on and on. The outfit she wore had taken weeks to plan. She wanted simple but sexy. It had to convey the right statement about her personality. This visit could have the possibility of changing everything she knew, and with the way things were going lately, she desperately needed a change. This was going to be the aha moment Oprah had been referring to for years.

2

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Ray, The 954 Debacle September 2012

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As she rode in the cab, she put her head back and closed her eyes, thinking of how this started. How her life was changed so drastically, and what brought her to this point. How her life had been turned upside down over the past year because of one person. One person whom she tried so desperately to warn her boyfriend about on countless occasions, and who made her nervous in a sick way every time she saw him. He was always so over the top, extravagant, out of control, and it was completely beyond her. The homes, the cars, the jewelry, the gifts, the restaurants, the food, the drinks—it was never enough, and he loved to flaunt it. Cara was nowhere near impressed with the extravagance and thought something was not right from the day she met the guy.

She specifically recalled one of the last instances before things hit the fan, which was the intimate casual dinner she and Ray had been invited to at the W Hotel for his birthday. To her, intimate meant small, and casual equaled jeans. Classy though, as 954 Steak was a four-star restaurant. She went dressed in trendy jeans, a sleeveless, white, boucle turtleneck, and black strappy four-inch heels. At five feet, two inches, heels were Cara’s friend—and so was Victoria’s Secret. The clothing was great, fit her perfectly in a size two or four, and something she could afford…well, sometimes. She had her hair pulled up high in a clip and wore minimal makeup as she currently had a nice tan working. She had brushed on some mascara and glided on a sheer lip color. She also wore a simple, small diamond pendant Ray had given her many years ago and her signature diamond right hand ring. She thought she looked decent, and her boyfriend told her so without having to say a word. Although it was no secret that Ray thought she would look good wearing a paper bag.

Once entering the restaurant, she immediately saw him and his fiancée, Kwan, sitting at the bar. She looked like a China doll. From the side, her mascaraed eyelashes batted, and her red lips moved slowly. Her long black hair hung down past her waist and shimmered like glass. She was dripping in diamonds, from her ears, her neck, her wrists, and fingers. She wore a black silk blouse, a short black pencil skirt, and calfskin boots in leopard print that went over her knees. Most likely the outfit was PRADA and cost more than Cara’s rent. Kwan turned, saw them coming, and she squealed with excitement as she sprang up from the barstool, arms extended, almost tripping over her huge Louis Vuitton sac on the floor.

OH MY GOD, Cara! SO fantastic to see you! You look ahhhhmazing! Oh—is that sweater a Versace? It’s darhhhhling! She flung her arms around Cara’s shoulders and then air kissed her on each cheek to seal the fake deal. Thank you SO much for coming! Matt is just so thrilled you both are here! He wouldn’t dream of having this celebration without you!

Oh my, well, Kwan, it is great to see you too. Thank you for inviting us; we would not have missed Matt’s birthday for anything. Cara swallowed at the sound of herself and felt like vomiting. She definitely wanted to miss this, like a bus going to Fargo, but Ray told her it was necessary to attend this function. It was out of respect for his business relationship with Matt, and there was no option to decline. They had fought fiercely about it (something they rarely did), and she was none too happy about having to come.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Matt approaching her. Hi, baby. You look as gorgeous as ever. He did the double air kiss thing too. This night is going to be kick ass fun, and mostly because my best friends in the world are right here with me. You and Ray. He hugged her hard and winked. Ahhh, my man, Ray! He reached out to shake Ray’s hand, then pulled him in for a bear hug. Again, nausea came to the surface.

Kwan and Matt saw another couple walk in the restaurant and almost immediately lost interest in them. They directed Cara and Ray into a private dining room where dinner was to be held. Upon entering, Cara realized that intimate was out the window. There were at least twenty couples sitting around a huge table shaped in a square. Cara looked around to see if she recognized anyone, and then squeezed Ray’s hand. Ray squeezed back and smiled gently. In his famous southern drawl, he said loudly, Well hi, y’all! We’re here!

Everyone laughed and was speaking hello at the same time. Cara, her face turning red, gazed around the room. She did not recognize ONE person. There were lots of botoxed lips and foreheads, men with expensive suits and scotches, but no one she knew. There was room in the rear with bottles upon bottles of Cristal, white calla lilies in vases lining the square infinity table, a table to the side with beautifully wrapped gifts stacked high, and plates of fancy appetizers being offered by waiters in tux-like uniforms. Would you like a crab stuffed mushroom, miss?

Cara looked up to see one hell of a built, bald, Black, and beautiful man holding the tray of food. Uh, no. No, thank you. I’m good. What she was thinking inside her mind was, If you, my man, can hop on the tray, I’ll have one of you—maybe two! She smiled at him, and he smiled right back at her. She was counting in her head as there were still eight empty chairs around the vast table.

Suddenly one of the ladies at the far end of the universe spoke up in a heavy New York accent, Are you guys Cara and Ray?

Ray answered, Why, yes. Yes, we are!

The lady replied, and said, Well according to these place cards, you two are to sit right here then. Cara did a doubletake, looking at where they were to sit. Then she looked at Ray. He looked back and shrugged. He was always okay with whatever. It just did not matter to him. It was miles away from where Kwan and Matt were sitting—their so called best friends as they’d been tagged just moments ago. Ray grabbed her hand and pulled her around the room to their seats. He pulled out the chair for her. She sat and just knew it was not going to be a good night sitting in a room full of strangers mixed with bullshit.

They sat next to an Indian couple—Scott and Singha. It took Singha a mere two minutes to tell Cara that she and Scott had been together for six years, they were both doctors, and had two beautiful children, aged three and four. Then she started asking rapid questions. Did she have kids? Did she work out, because she looked like she did? What do you do Cara? Cara could barely get the answers out before she was asking more questions, then rambled on about Kwan, and how she just ahhhhdored her. Thank goodness her gorgeous Black waiter came by asking what she’d like to drink. Cara replied, A Pinot Grigio, please?

Oh, yes, so you are the one! Ma’am, I believe the hosts have Santa Margherita chilling especially for you. I will be right back with it. Cara was not surprised. Matt and Kwan never spared any expense on anything and did so on a daily basis. Again, she wondered how they did this kind of thing almost every night of the week. Singha was still talking: Didn’t Cara just love Kwan, and how tiny she was, and how smart and lucky she was to have Matt? The one-sided conversation was droning on and on, and Cara just tuned it out. Her Pinot was delivered, and she took a healthy swig. She turned around and was pleased to see that the Black Adonis had put the bottle in a standing chiller right behind her. She was going to need it.

The clanking of glasses tuned her back in. Kwan was standing at the other side of the universe, tapping her fork on the champagne glass she held. I’d like to make a toast to my wonderful lover, partner, and husband, Matt. Cara wanted to leave right then and there. This would be such crap.

Matt is just over the moon that you could all be here. You are each so special to him and dear to his heart. I am so lucky to have such an incredible man in my world, and he has changed my life for the better. Happy birthday, baby! Let’s raise our glasses!

Kwan lifted her glass, and the rest of the guests followed, shouting, Here, here! Kwan and Matt shared a kiss. Cara was sure she was going to lose it. Kwan however was not done.

I want to introduce to you a special guest at our table tonight, if you have not met him already. Gio, would you stand up please? Cara looked across the table to her far right, and Gio stood. Gio was about six feet, five inches, with dark hair that came down to his jaw. He had thick eyebrows, dark blue eyes, and a perfect face to go with it.

Why thank you, Kwan. It is of course my honor to be in the company of you and Matt, my distinct pleasure. The British accent he spoke in was just fabulous, and Cara was feeling slightly better. She hoped to meet him before the night was over.

Oh, no Gio, we are honored to have you. As she waltzed over to him as he took her hand in his and kissed the back of it as if she were royalty. She looked up slightly blushing. Gio is the owner of London Choppers in Wentworth, London. Perhaps you have seen the show on TLC? He is crazy popular and has designed countless custom bikes for celebrities here and abroad. Gio has been a close friend of ours for years, and tonight I have a very special surprise to share with Matt that Gio has inspired. Kara then dramatically turned to the back of the room and shouted, Waiters!

With that, two waiters pulled open the French doors to the private room, and in rolled a black custom chopper, blazing with chrome, smelling rich of leather, tagged with an MHG monogram on the seat, and oozing a huge, obnoxious price tag. Cara turned to look at Matt across the room. He was crying tears of joy and disbelief.

3

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Sam, Myrtle Beach

March 2013

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Ma’am!

Cara thought she heard something.

Ma’am, we have arrived at the hotel, said the cab driver.

Oh, oh my, thank you, sir. I must have drifted off. How much?

$35, but that’s without the tip.

Yes, of course, sir. Cara handed him two twenties and grabbed her purse and suitcase, and in a haze, headed into the lobby. She was so deep in thought about that wretched night at 954 that she forgot she was about to make the entrance of her life. She needed to get a grip and shift gears fast. She had to find a restroom to freshen up.

She entered the airy, marble floored lobby and took in the grandiose scene in front of her. Huge urns of beautiful exotic flowers were everywhere, with plush sofas, chairs, and tables set up in groups throughout the vast space. People of all sorts were bustling about; some were in swimsuit coverups, some in golf wear, some in suits—all going somewhere in a hurry. She lifted her sunglasses onto her head and headed toward the front desk. She was so focused she could hear the click of her heels as she walked across the floor, along with feeling her heart beating out of her chest.

Checking in, ma’am? A gentleman wearing a navy suit and light blue shirt with a name tag that said KEN had intercepted her in the lobby.

Yes. Hi, well, uh yes, but I wanted to freshen up first. Where is the nearest ladies’ room?

That will be no problem, ma’am. It is just around the corner of the desk, to your left. What is your name? I will start the process while you are gone.

That’d be great, sir. My name is Cara. Cara Harrington. Be right back!

She leaned over a bit to grab her suitcase to pull it along, and her sunglasses fell off her head. She went to pick them up and then turned around to walk and ran right into someone. She knew it even before she raised her head. Oh my God.

HIM.

He was right there.

Right NOW.

She was shaking like a leaf. She looked up. He was looking into her with his deep hazel eyes, smiling. There went her stomach in a loopy way. She was completely caught off guard, and now all that tedious time spent on planning entrances was in vain. Three hours on a plane and thirty minutes sleeping in a cab surely equaled looking like crap. She was scrambling in her head.

Cara, he said. Wow. He took a breath. You are even more beautiful than I remembered.

Cara blushed. Surely he was exaggerating or flat-out bullshitting. Hi, she replied softly. She looked him square in the eyes. Damn he was gorgeous. And thank you for saying that, but I was honestly heading to freshen up before you saw me.

Oh, babe. I’m sorry. Please don’t let me stop you. I just saw you come into the lobby, and well, I could not wait to say hi. If it means anything, you look good to me. Downright adorable he was. His looks matched his personality. Irresistible.

She stood there for who knows how long just looking at him. Okay, then. Let me freshen up this self of mine. I will be right back.

Listen, he said, why don’t I let you check in, and then when you are ready, just come by my room?

Cara nodded and smiled. Sounds like a plan!

He reached out and touched her shoulder. "I really apologize if I caught you off guard, but I simply could not wait one more minute to