An Unexpected Love For Christmas

  An

  Unexpected

  Love For

  Christmas

  Sequel to A Leap of Faith

  by

  Tam Yvonne

  Copyright info

  Preface

  My Dear Readers, we meet again. After the success of my debut novelette, “A Leap of Faith,” it was not in my plans to write a sequel to the book. However, that changed rather quickly, after I started getting feedback from you all, the readers, about how much you loved the characters in the book and wanted to read more about them. Especially, “Allison.” There was something about that chica that caught a lot of your attention, and the fan mail flooded my email box asking for more on her.

  So, the people spoke; and I, the writer, took to pen and paper and expounded more on who Miss Allison Gallant really was and how she became the woman you all fell in love with.

  I’m going to be very forthright with you all; I did not expect “A Leap of Faith” to be so well received. And for it to become a best-selling book was beyond my wildest dreams. Don’t get me wrong, I knew it was a good story; and that it would touch someone’s life, but GEESH, I had no clue of the impact the book would have on so many of you.

  I am so very grateful to all of you who purchased and reviewed my book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, etc. The feedback and just the genuine support that I have been receiving as an author/writer is very gratifying. It absolutely means the world to me, and your kindness is certainly not going unnoticed.

  With that being said, as requested, you are now holding your very own copy of my novella, “An Unexpected Love for Christmas.” The sequel to my debut book, “A Leap of Faith.”

  I pray that you love Allison even more than you did when you were first introduced to her as Leilani Hamilton’s best friend and Spelman sister in “A Leap of Faith.”

  Acknowledgments

  Nothing that I do in my life is done without my seeking the guidance, protection, and love of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Without the LORD as the head of my life, I am nothing; and I will FOREVER be a lover and follower of Jesus!

  My precious kids, Sharon and Ellis, truly the BEST gifts I ever received, and my Shih Tzu fur baby, “Blue,” who keeps the laughter going in our home. Thank you guys for supporting “Mommy” and loving me as much as I love you all.

  My “sweetie-babe,” Rico. Your love, understanding, encouragement, and support has been such a blessing to me. I never thought in a million years that I’d find a man with your characteristics, and I was right. I didn’t find you; GOD led our paths to cross, and HE put us together, and I am so grateful to have you in my corner. My mama, Christine, for all her words of wisdom, sacrifices, and teachings. It is all appreciated and know that I did listen. Thank you for raising me “the right way.”

  My sister, La’Toya. Words cannot describe our bond. You have been there for me more times than I can count, and I will forever be grateful for our sisterly bond. My nephews, PJ & Bryson, “Tee Tee,” loves you boys, very much. My fur niece and nephew “Princess” & “Beau.” My brothers, sister-in-love, brother-in-love, uncles, cousins, stepfather, and extended family. When you come from a huge family, you cannot name everyone, but my Tate & Curtis families in Alabama, you all know who you are, and I love each of you so very much.

  My church family, Bishop Frances V. Mills and the wonderful Tabernacle of Faith Christian Church family, and my close friends who have been in my life for several years, you know who you are.

  I can now say that I have FANS of my writing, and I want to acknowledge each one of you for purchasing my debut book and my devotional. Thank you for leaving reviews, watching my interviews, following me on social media, and supporting my writing efforts. Without you, there would not be an “AUTHOR TAM YVONNE,” and I will be forever grateful for your love and support.

  My heavenly angels, my grandparents, Mrs. Willie Alma Tate-Curtis and Mr. Samuel Curtis, Sr., I know you all are looking down and putting in good words to the Lord on my behalf. I miss you both so very much and wish you were here to see all the magnificent things that have transpired in my life.

  Lastly, but never least, the best publishing team on the planet… PEN LEGACY PUBLISHING COMPANY! You all are stuck with me as long as you’ll have me. Thank you for making my childhood dream of writing books a reality. This writing journey is so much easier with you all in my corner! Thank you!

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to each one of you who reached out to me to do a sequel to my debut book, “A Leap of Faith.”

  All that I put into this book is for you, and your reading pleasure. I hope that what you suggested to me has been exhibited in this sequel.

  Specially, La’Toya Jones, Kimberly Terry, Krystal Garrett, Tiffany Green, Patricia Carter, Annah Clark, Versie Zanders, and Tiffany Jones for supporting my first Fans Zoom meeting and sharing your opinions about the book. As promised, I wanted to personally and publicly express my gratitude to each of you.

  Lastly, thank you to my fans… “TTC” …TEAM TAM CREW…You all are the BEST!

  ~ ALWAYS BE A BLESSING! ~

  “The best things in life happen unexpectedly.

  The best stories begin with ‘and, all of a sudden…’

  The best adventures were never planned as they turned

  out to be. Free yourself from expectations. The best will

  come when and from you least expect it.”

  ~The Minds Journal~

  Table of Contents

  Preface

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Chapter 1 ~Work~

  Chapter 2 ~Back in The Lord’s House~

  Chapter 3 ~Lord, Who Is This Man?~

  Chapter 4 ~Miss Snippy~

  Chapter 5 ~You Gotta Eat~

  Chapter 6 ~I Don’t Know~

  Chapter 7 ~First Date~

  Chapter 8 ~Get Out Your Own Way~

  Chapter 9 ~Where Is He?~

  Chapter 10 ~I Blew It~

  Chapter 11 ~I Had No Right~

  Chapter 12 ~Dinner and a Movie~

  Chapter 13 ~Didn’t See It Coming~

  Chapter 14 ~Sweet Home Alabama~

  Chapter 15 ~By the Power Vested in Me~

  Chapter 16 ~A Bug?~

  Chapter 17 ~Our Family~

  Chapter 18 ~A Feeling Like No Other~

  Good Judgement

  About the Author

  Books by Tam Yvonne

  Chapter 1

  ~Work~

  “Work, work, work, work, work! That’s all you do, Allie,” replied Leilani, Allison’s best friend and Spelman College sister. “Honey, you really need to take some time for yourself. I am so very proud of this magnificent, financial president you’ve become with your finance company, but it’s so much more to life than just working yourself silly, Sis.”

  “Lani, I know. But after graduate school, I have just thrown myself into becoming the best financial professional I can be, and it’s certainly not left me time for anything. Heck, I barely get over to see you, my best friend, my goddaughter and Floyd and we live in the same city.” Allison Gallant replied, as she typed on her office’s laptop, trying to wrap up her workday at 9 p.m. in the evening.

  “I understand Allie, but it’s up to you. You must make time, sweetie. Life is way too short to just throw yourself into work and not enjoy the fruits of your labor. After losing daddy and having Zora, I look at life so differently now and I just want the best for you. I want you to fall in love, get married, have a baby and just not work so hard,” Leilani responded.

  “I know, Sis,” Allison softly spoke. “I know, I will certainly try and do better. I’m not c
oming into the office this Sunday, so I will see you at church.”

  “Yaaaaaay,” Leilani squealed. “Oh, my goodness… I cannot wait to see you.”

  Allison laughed, “I cannot wait to see you either. Well, let me wrap up this final client file, and I am getting out of here for the evening.”

  “Okay, be careful, and I’ll see you on Sunday. Love ya, Allie.”

  “Love you too, Sis,” Allison responded, hanging up the phone.

  Allison laid back in her office chair and began to think about what her best friend had just said to her. Leilani was right; all she did was work. No time for play. She didn’t even have time to fit in exercise that she enjoyed so much. She had been working hard all her life to be the best she could be, especially academically. Graduating in the top 5% of her private Christian high school in California, attending Spelman College in Atlanta, and completing her graduate degree with a 3.9 GPA at Duke University, being a high achiever was all she knew. Having a father who was a retired Superior Court judge and a big brother who was a Harvard Law grad and law professor, there was not an option to be anything but GREAT!

  But who says you can’t be great and still find love and raise a family? “Maybe my doctor or lawyer will show up soon,” Allison laughed aloud.

  All her life, Allison Gallant has been referred to as a bourgeois female because of her physical appearance and the way she carried herself. Yes, she came from a very privileged background, and her widowed father, retired Superior Court judge, Raphael Gallant saw to it that she and her brother had the absolute best, growing up in Berkeley, California. But, with her mother, Maria, dying giving birth to her, her father did what he knew was best for his children, and that was providing them with the very best of everything.

  Growing up, Allison was considered “bossy,” but she was a leader and not a follower. She made it her business to stand out and let anyone in her presence know that she was rich and beautiful, and many wanted to be in her circle of friends because so many people were drawn to her.

  She was an attractive woman, tall and slender with light brown skin, long dark hair that she’d dye a different color in a heartbeat; dark was working for her lately. But little did they know that when she was home alone with no one around but God and her cat, Nestle, she was an insecure, scared woman who missed her mother and wanted people to love her for who she was and not what she had or who her father was.

  Putting on a “game face” is all she knew. No one, except her best friend, Leilani Hamilton, knew “the real” Allison Gallant, and Leilani broke through her hard-exterior freshman year at Spelman College during an orientation and the ladies became instant friends and have been inseparable ever since.

  Now, all grown up with several degrees and tons of accolades, she still did not have anyone to share her successes with. She came home nightly to a large house, fit for a family of four. The only sound was the pitter patter of Nestle’s feet, jumping down from the sofa when he heard her come into the house.

  She never thought her life would turn out the way it was playing out. She thought she and her college sweetheart, Jermaine Randall, would graduate college, get married and immediately raise a family. But Jermaine was not on the same sheet and had other plans. He graduated Morehouse College with a History degree and moved back to Syracuse, New York, to attend law school, or at least that’s what he would oftentimes tell Allison. He moved back to his hometown, but he married his pregnant high school sweetheart before enrolling into Syracuse University College of Law.

  For four years, Jermaine played Allison and had her on an emotional rollercoaster with the hopes of them being together forever. She was willing to wait for him as long as he wanted. She had even toyed with the idea of moving to Syracuse to attend graduate school to be closer to him. But he would never be on board with her suggestions, and now she knew why. His true love was there, and he had no intentions of spending his forever with her.

  It took Allison years to get over the heartbreak of being used by Jermaine, and she would oftentimes think about what a fool she was for that man and all the time she wasted on him.

  Shaking the thought out of her head, Allison wrapped up her final client’s file, packed her laptop up in her dark brown Maxwell-Scott luxury shoulder tote bag, grabbed her car keys, and headed to the employee parking deck.

  Approaching her childhood dream car, she started the red Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible, with black lining and peanut butter-colored seats. She opened the trunk and placed her shoulder tote bag inside.

  Grabbing the steering wheel, she took a deep breath, “Lord, I know I have asked for my doctor, a man with lots of money from a wonderful background. I don’t know when you are going to send me my prince, but, on this night, I ask you, whichever one of your sons you send to me, please allow me to be prepared and accepting of what you have for me. You know the desires of my heart, and I know you will only send me your absolute best. In your name, Jesus, I thank you in advance. Amen.”

  Cranking her car, Allison, drove off into the Charlotte night.

  Chapter 2

  ~Back in The Lord’s House~

  “Who are YOU to judge?” Leilani shouted into the microphone as the congregation yelled out their “Amen” and loud handclaps.

  “That question did NOT come from me, y’all. “Do not judge! That is a command from the Lord Jesus himself. Right from his mouth in Matthew 7:1-3. I don’t think you all believe me. Go to it yourselves. Turn your bibles to Matthew 7: 1-3. I don’t have to read it to you; you can read it for yourself!” Leilani exclaimed.

  Allison sat in her usual spot at Leilani’s church on the front pew, next to Leilani’s mother, Dr. Almah Mae Connor-Bassett, who moved to Charlotte after her husband, the late Bishop Ervin Bassett, passed away shortly before Leilani had baby Zora. Dr. Connor-Bassett did not want to continue living in Atlanta alone, and since retiring and at the insistence of Leilani and Floyd, more so Leilani, “Mommy, I don’t know nothing about babies.” Dr. Connor-Bassett moved into the mother-in-law suite at their home to help look after her first grandchild, Zora Nicole.

  Leilani was on fire this morning. Allison was so very proud of her best friend. Leilani had always been a good minister, but she had become more confident over the past few years, and her delivery kept getting better and better. What started out as a small bible study group was now almost a megachurch in Charlotte. Leilani had really made her mark in the religious community in the Metro Charlotte area.

  “I’m not going to keep you all long,” Leilani continued, “but you do know judging is a sin, right? Keep on judging people. If you continue judging others, you WILL, and I repeat, you WILL be judged in the same way you judge others. Trust me. You. Will. Be. Judged!”

  Taking a deep breath, she continued, “before I close, turn in your bibles one last time to Romans 2: 1-5. I am reading from the New International Version. And it reads as thus, ‘You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgement against those who do such things is based on truth. So, when you, a mere human being, pass judgement on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgement? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgement will be revealed.’”

  All you could hear in the church was “my, my, my,” and “my Lord.” Allison sat quietly, marinating on the words that had just been spoken. All her life, she’d not only been judged herself but, she had often judged others. Although she knew it was not right, hearing it just then from her friend’s mouth that it was a sin to judge others sent chills over her body.

  Interrupting her thoughts, Leilani spok
e, “before we get out of this place. Let me close in prayer. Oh, Heavenly Father, Lord of Lords, King of all Kings, help us, Jesus! Help us to be mindful of our actions. Help us to realize that it is not our place to judge others. We are no better than they are. Lord help us to just allow You, to be You, and to trust Your plans and the transformations that You and only You can do in people. Thank You, Father God, for coming into this place, on this day to apprehend our hearts. I am coming to You today, Lord, on behalf of everyone that hears my voice, asking that You transform each soul, into souls who love unconditionally, just as You do, Father. Help us, Jesus, to see people the way that You see people. Help us, Jesus, to show compassion, even while having wrong done to us. Help us, Jesus, to respond with love and not hate. Thank Lord for filling us with Your love and for freeing us, Jesus. YES! FREEING us from the urges to judge others. We love You, Jesus, and we thank You, Father. Father, we lift up Your name and only Your resplendent name, Amen.”

  The congregation responded in agreement, “Amen.”

  “Lani, it was so good to be back in the Lord’s house today. Now that was some word today,” Allison replied, rocking her beautiful goddaughter to sleep. She was sitting in a chair at her friend’s kitchen table as Leilani prepared Sunday dinner. Leilani’s mother had gone to take a nap before dinner, and Floyd was in his man cave watching football. Little Zora had run herself silly playing with her toys and watching cartoons before she eventually climbed into her ‘Aunt Allie’s’ lap and fell asleep.

  The little girl had grown so much in the past year and was a mixture of both Leilani and Floyd. Beautiful, smooth brown skin like her dad, big bright eyes like her Mom, and a head full of thick, black hair that Leilani kept in two big ponytails.