She’d be carted off and charged with burglary!

the dark of the cupboard, Viv heard Bernie hum happily, then the swish of a coat as she hung it on a bannister. Moments later, Bernie gasped – she must have seen her half-empty bookcase in the living room!

When Viv trembled, a copy of fell from her grasp to the floor, and then the cupboard door opened suddenly. Silhouetted against the fierce daylight stood Bernie. She stared in shock at Viv, who hunched beneath the slope of the stairs, desperately clutching the heap of books.

Viv imagined Bernie calling the police. She’d be carted off to the station, put in a cell – charged with burglary! She’d go to prison, all for stealing some Sidney Sheldons in a fit of temper. And rightly so, because she had done a terrible thing. Ashamed of her behaviour, Viv burst into tears.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said, shuddering with such emotion that all the books crashed to the floor in a heap.

‘Oh Viv.’ Bernie said sadly, and pulled her gently out from beneath the stairs. ‘Come and sit down.’

Bernie picked up the bloated copy of and brought it over to where Viv wept on the sofa.

‘I meant to give it back,’ said Bernie sadly. ‘I was really

The Thorn Birds Jewels

enjoying it, as I have all the books you’ve loaned me. But then in a clumsy moment I dropped it in the bath. I was so ashamed that I couldn’t look you in the eye that night at book group.’

‘It’s okay,’ Viv said in a quiet voice. ‘It’s just a book.’

‘It’s not just a book, Viv, I know how much you love it. I was going to come and see you, but I wanted to wait till something arrived.’ Bernie reached into her bag, took out a padded envelope and gave it to her. ‘I picked it up from the Post Office this morning.’ ‘What is it?’ asked Viv. ‘Open it,’ urged Bernie. When Viv opened the envelope, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

‘It’s a first edition hardback of Bernie said with a smile. ‘It took ages to find one, because they’re quite rare now, but I wanted you to have the best copy money can buy.’

‘It’s beautiful,’ said Viv in wonder.

‘I’ve persuaded the others at book group to discuss it

Jewels,’

tomorrow, so I’m afraid you’re going to have to read it all over again.’

Viv was shocked. ‘Am I allowed back?’

‘Of course.’ Bernie squeezed Viv’s hand. ‘We can’t talk about your favourite book without you being there, it wouldn’t be right.’

Letting her fingers roam across the jacket cover of the heavy hardback, with its embossed image of a single perfect jewel, Viv realised that was what Bernie had been to her: a single, perfect jewel of a friend.

Viv had let her pride get the better of her. They had fallen out over a silly thing.

She had been through a lot, all her troubles had piled up and became a perfect storm in her head, until she couldn’t think straight. She had let her upset almost consume the best friendship she would ever have. She would never make that mistake again.

‘I’m so sorry, do you forgive me?’

Bernie smiled at Viv, ‘Of course I do.’

The tall, glossy hardback would stand on Viv’s bookshelf like a shining monument to their friendship.

That afternoon Viv finally got her hands again on Danielle Steel’s but more importantly, she got her bestie back.

And she wouldn’t let go of either of them again.

Jewels,