Michelle Moggio - The Paris Effect

Copyright 2014 by Michelle Moggio

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

without the express written permission of the publisher or author

except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

Cover design by Jody Luzier

First Printing, 2014

ISBN 9781483529110

Publisher: BookBaby

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Author Website: www.thepariseffect.net

Dedicated to

Ruchla Rechtman Ruwe

&

Rose Marie Regnier

With much love and admiration

Chapter One

They reached Pompidou Center just as mornings first sun broke through. In their rush to get settled in, it didnt take Mia and Tooty long to wheel their suitcases past the crush of couples, students, tourists and assorted characters to their little slice of heaven, a two-bed apartment on rue Geoffroy lAngevin, their home for seven whole days and nights. After punching in two different codes, one outside the building and one on the inside security door, they made their way up the tiny, dark elevator into an apartment that was bright with light, showing off a birds-eye view of Pompidou Center.

This is perfect! said Tooty with a big, open smile on her face.

No complaints here, replied Mia, finally able to breathe, sensing her client was pleased.

Mia Martellis research had paid off. Her job is to create and deliver the ultimate dream vacation in Paris. Most of her clients book just one week (her minimum requirement for Paris) which means she has to adjust her own slow, leisurely idea of travel with their vision of a dream vacation. Every client is different so the arrangements vary with each new companion. Mia always searches for a good deal, a great location and easy access to public transportation. After that, its a matter of what feels right for her customers needs. She had a good feeling that Tooty would enjoy the Marais. Their Beaubourg neighborhood was the right mix of lively people, restaurants, stores and attitude.

Other than figuring out how to use the cable t.v. (oops, no English speaking channels), the apartment seemed straightforward enough. Not too fancy or too austere, it coupled practicality with the feeling that you were living a bit of la vie en rose in Paris.

Tootys personality profile (Mias best ally for planning a memorable vacation for her customer) revealed that she lives to walk. Literally. Obsessively. Compulsively. An amazing 70-something-year-old fitness buff and fiercely competitive, she race-walks a minimum of four miles a day and can lift 10-lb. weights effortlessly. Her eating regimen is organic, green-based and rigid with only an occasional bite of meat. She wants to go to Paris to prove to herself that she can walk virtual marathons in the famous city of light.

During the pre-trip consultation, Mia counseled her that Paris is indeed a walking city but much, much more. Tooty, Paris is for PLEASURE.

Oh, but I LOVE to walk! Im hoping Ill be fit enough to race-walk the New York Marathon after I do Paris.

After quickly putting away their clothes and toiletries, they took inventory of what they needed to stock their tiny Paris kitchen and set off in the crush of people below. It seemed like everyone had landed on their doorstep. Locals mixed with tourists of every nationality. The Marais is an explosion of history, shop fronts, restaurants and pure inspiration.

Lets check out our neighborhood first and do a wander so you feel comfortable here, Mia suggested. Then we can sit down to a decadent lunch to get you in the mood for the upcoming week in Paris.

Thinking it over, Tooty frowned and shook her head. Thats ok, we can just grab a sandwich and some fruit and eat while we walk. No need to sit, I want to hit a lot more than just our neighborhood on my first day. Remember, Im here to walk, walk, walk!

No worries, well walk plenty, smiled Mia.

They set off down rue Rambuteau, past a chocolaterie that featured shiny, tempting chocolates in every shape and color and an outrageous brioche with rose praline sprinkled on the outside, looking way too beautiful to eat. They flew past a tempting patisserie called Pain de Sucre with fantasy fruit tarts, breads, and marshmallows dazzling the window front. Nothing made Tooty moderate her stride. Not slowing a beat, Mia kept Tootys quick pace all the way past a restaurant adorned with an impossibly cute bulldog without taking a look at the posted menu. She explained to her client that by law all French restaurants have to post their menus on the exterior of their storefront. Seemingly uninterested in this information, Tooty pounded the pavement on down the road, pumping her arms energetically.

They didnt even slow down when they passed the gorgeous Archives National as rue Rambuteau became rue des Francs Bourgeois. They passed countless tempting side streets that beckoned but kept on trucking. As a matter of fact, Mia was starting to despair that Tooty wasnt really seeing the city when all of a sudden, as they approached Place des Vosges, the fitness firebrand came to a screeching halt. She gazed at the elegant address, built in the 17th century. It had the most amazing architecture Tooty had ever seen. Identical mansions made of red brick and white stone graced the formal gardens in a perfectly symmetrical square. She noticed people for the first time, real Parisians, taking a moment out of their morning to enjoy the serene and gentle atmosphere of the famous park. The green grass looked inviting as did the sandbox where adorable children quietly played. With everyone smiling and relaxed, it seemed like a good time to take a moment to slow down.

How beautiful. This must be what you meant when you said Paris is a city of pleasure.

Trying not to sound preachy, Mia agreed, Yes, this is a good example of a time-out moment for the average Parisian, taking time off from the rigors of daily life to stop and smell the roses, so to speak.

Admiring the handsome young man who was, in turn, being admired by some giggling teenage girls, Tooty and Mia reveled in their surroundings. They noticed a couple already sitting on the grass eating an early lunch of bread, cheese and salami when Tooty suddenly expressed her desire to have a good lunch. I know we havent walked that far but maybe we should sit down in one of those famous Parisian bistros you talked about and have a traditional meal. After all, it is our first day and you can get rid of calories better at noon than at night. Ill make up for it afterwards with a monster walk.

Grateful for the change in plan, Mia reversed directions and headed toward one of her favorite local bistros, Le Hangar, located just behind the Anne Frank garden. The tables out front were set so the hungry duo got to cherry pick the best seats in the house as it was just then noon straight up. On a day this gorgeous, they were of the same mind to eat outside. Madame welcomed them with a sweet smile and a menu and came back a few minutes later with a (free) amuse bouche of toasts and black olive tapenade. Tooty had a perfect view of the Muse de Poupe (Doll Museum) and was delighted to see a handful of sweet little kids trudging to the Jardins Anne Frank with their baby dolls and kick scooters, along with Mama or Papa close by. It was an irresistible scene.