7

The commercial comes on while the girls are in the kitchen making everyone ice cream sundaes for dessert. I've seen it a hundred times before.

"Here at Volturi Consultants, we strive to make life easier for humans and give purpose to vampires. Bring your problems to us, and we won't rest until we solve them. Volturi Consultants is a proud partner of V.A.M.P. and approved by President Swan herself."

Angela comes back in and hands me a bowl of ice cream before plopping down next to me. "We're out of cherries."

"It's okay." I take the spoon she offers.

"I put them on the shopping list."

"Thanks."

Her eyes glance over at the screen as the ending credits for the commercial roll. "You know the Blacks just hired a vamp housekeeper through V.C for Billy."

My eyebrows shoot upward because Billy Black is one of the proud non-conformists. "Yeah?"

Angela nods. "She comes in at night while he's asleep and cleans, cooks his meals, and leaves before he wakes up so he doesn't even know. Jake said they didn't have a choice. Billy's health is declining, and no one has the time for round-the-clock care. He said she's a godsend and worth the pricks if it means his grandpa is taken care of."

"Kids are allowed to donate?"

She hums around her spoon. "Yeah, he just turned eighteen, so he qualified. His sister Rachel is super pregnant right now, so she's out, and Rebecca ran off a long time ago. I'm not sure what they would have done if he wasn't allowed."

"I'm glad they found a solution."

"V.A.M.P. does so much good." She frowns. "I just wish Billy would open his eyes and see how much better the world is thanks to the program."

Alice sits on the other end of the couch, eating her ice cream and typing away on her phone with a secret smile, so I know she's talking to Jasper. I should have taken her cell when I grounded her, but seeing as she's already lost her role in the play, I decide to let it go.

She can talk to him all she wants, but aside from school where she'll run into him a few times a day, she won't be spending time with him for the next fourteen days. I'll make sure of that by coming home from the office early every night, but she doesn't have to know that.

We finish our movie, and the girls say good night, leaving me to clean up the mess we made. I'm picking up pizza boxes and empty bowls when the commercial comes back on.

"Bring your problems to us, and we won't rest until we solve them."

"Huh."