across her thighs. She suddenly felt uncomfortable and surged towards the ladder. She climbed out and snatched her towel from the chaise.
" Mi Señora. Don't do it. You are much too beautiful."
She whirled around and found herself face to face with the handsome young pool boy. "Don't do what?" she asked, a smile lifting her lips.
"Sacrificio," he said, drawing the word out in a reverent sigh.
"Sacrifice? What are you talking about?" she asked, cinching the towel around her waist.
"You are in the line," he said, lifting his chin towards the balconies. "You have bought the time."
She followed his gaze towards the balconies until she found her own. She remembered dropping the glass and it shattering upon one of the brown stains on the edge of the pool. Took more than a glass to make a stain. Her eyes widened when she finally realized the sources of the stains, then cinched closed as she wondered why so many. She regarded the young Mexican, her question in her eyes.
"You do not know?" he said. "How is this? You have the room. Much sought after, those rooms."
"There was a last minute change," she said, remembering the hassle she'd gone through just to find a room in the resort town. "Something about a storm over Dallas. All flights delayed."
The pool boy nodded sagely. "I understand." He chuckled. "This is his way. Some people choose Jesus. Jesus sometimes choose people."
"What the hell are you saying?" she asked.
"Jesus choose you to be here. You not know of the Jesus Pool, but arrive in time." The manager yelled something in Spanish, causing the pool boy to turn hastily away. He made to leave, but spoke over his shoulder. "Be sure you jump far. It takes much courage to find his embrace." And then he was gone, trotting past the manager's desk and into a stairwell.
She walked to the pool's edge and stared down at the face of Christianity. Dusk had fallen and the bottom of the pool had been lit by lights. She allowed her gaze to track the stains, then looked once again to the balconies. Most of them were now filled with people staring down at the pool. Several of them looked eager. Even more of them looked desperate.
***
They'd finished the langoustines, which had been sautéed in a garlic tamarind sauce. Suki's tongue still tingled with the complex fusion of flavors. The cabernet had a velvety taste and she sipped it now, pausing every now and then to taste the chocolate mousse she'd ordered for dessert. The meal had been so delicious that she'd barely noticed Bob and his incessant commentary. Bob smoked a Cuban cigar, occasionally sipping from his fifth Cosmo of the evening. Both of them stared across Zihuatanejo Bay at the lights aboard the ships anchored in the harbor where people celebrated Christmas the more traditional way. She heard snatches of Silent Night.
"I know you," said a black woman.
"Maven," said a thin black man, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Leave the young couple alone."
She shrugged free of the hand and stepped closer. "No Martin. I do know them. They're in our hotel." She pointed a wavering finger in Suki's direction. "Didn't I see you swimming, dearie?"
Suki frowned, her moment of satisfaction gone. Still, she remembered the woman's face from the balconies— a few floors above her own, if she remembered right.
"Oh Hello," said Suki
The woman mistook the salutation as an invitation. She grabbed the empty third chair at Suki's table and sat, her escort taking position behind her, his face set and sad.
"I knew I recognized you. I told Marvin that you were one of us, but he didn't believe me. Said you didn't have the look"
"One of us?" asked Bob.
"You know about the Jesus Pool, right?" asked Maven.
Before Bob could respond, Suki interjected, "we were late reservations. Our travel agent said the room was the only one available."
"Oh," said Maven.
"But we love the view," said Bob. "Really magnificent."
Maven and Martin gave Bob an odd look. “The Last Supper?” asked Maven.
“That too,” said Bob. “Odd to have that painted in the pool. Don’t you think?”
Maven shook her head slowly. “Then you don’t know.” She stood to go. “Just as well, I suppose.” She turned to leave.
“Wait,” said Suki, holding out her hand. “Don’t go,” she said, struggling to find a reason to keep the woman from leaving. “Let us buy you a drink.”
Maven stopped and turned. “That’s not necessary.”
Suki smiled. “Please. We don’t know anyone here. You’re the first people we’ve