by Karen Lewis

On April 29, 2008 best selling author James Patterson and co-author Gabrielle Charbonnet released a romance novel called Sundays at Tiffany’s. This entertaining and well written story made its way into a Lifetime Television original movie which premiered on December 6, 2010.

Jane is a lonely child who needs a lot of attention and support. Her mother, Vivienne, spends most of her time working as a producer on Broadway and flirting with men she may consider to be a potential husband. However, she does spend time with her daughter every Sunday when she takes her to the famous jewelry store Tiffany’s. Jane has only one friend in the world. He is a very good looking and kind man, the type of person who could have you doubled up laughing. She can talk to him about anything for hours on end. His name is Michael. He appears to be very different from any other friends. No one apart from Jane can hear or see him; some would have a hard time believing whether or not he actually existed.

Michael is an “imaginary friend” who is always assigned to children who need extra help and guidance until the age of nine. From then on he is no longer to be part of their life, and the child is supposed to forget his very existence.

However, Jane never forgets him. Over 20 years later Jane sees a glimpse of his face and remembers all those years ago when he left her at the age of nine and made a point of telling her she would never remember him.

Jane is now living in New York and working alongside her very difficult and controlling mother who tries to run her life. Jane has still managed to do well for herself, and has produced a small play called Thank Heaven, which is a story about her own childhood with Michael. The play was a success straight away, and Jane has plans for an upcoming movie starring her current boyfriend, Hugh, who is really only using her to get the leading role.

Then one night Hugh doesn’t turn up for a date, and Jane leaves upset, but Michael just happens to see her walking into the hotel. He can hardly believe his eyes when he sees her as this has never happened before. Michael has never seen the child as an adult but he knew it was Jane immediately. He follows her home and feels compelled to meet up with her. One day, after Jane makes a return visit to Tiffany’s, she sees him and he has that opportunity to talk to her again. Is this the start of something or is it all in the mind?

This book is like a fantastic fairy tale, a little far-fetched but certainly a page turner.

The movie rebroadcasts on Lifetime Television December 31, 2010 at 11 am.

Karen Lewis is a contributor to our Ministry Musings section, currently serving as a missionary in México with her husband and fellow contributor, Rev. Christopher Lewis. Learn more of their ministry at her blog, Beyond The Horizon.