Changes

Hunter has paid for Hayden to have a housekeeper in the ensuing years.  His first housekeeper, Leta, unexpectedly retired when her daughter (Paige) and grandson (Rylan) moved in with her after Paige's divorce.  Rylan has permanent disabilities resulting from his birth (and must use a wheelchair) and the family received a large settlement; his father (Glenn) did not want to raise a disabled son; he surrendered his parental rights, but then absconded with the settlement funds, forcing Paige and Rylan to move in with Leta.  Leta recommended Paige as her replacement, mainly so Paige could have medical insurance for Rylan.  Because of Rylan's special needs, and Paige not being able to afford special schooling, Leta and Paige are [[homeschooling]] Rylan, though it leaves him without any friends.  (He also has no male who could possibly be a "father figure": Paige's father died unexpectedly her last year of high school, and her brother has been in and out of jail, forcing her to cut off ties with him.)

Hunter has paid for Hayden to have a housekeeper in the ensuing years.  His first housekeeper, Leta, unexpectedly retired when her daughter (Paige) and grandson (Rylan) moved in with her after Paige's divorce.  Rylan has permanent disabilities resulting from his birth (and must use a wheelchair) and the family received a large settlement; his father (Glenn) did not want to raise a disabled son; he surrendered his parental rights, but then absconded with the settlement funds, forcing Paige and Rylan to move in with Leta.  Leta recommended Paige as her replacement, mainly so Paige could have medical insurance for Rylan.  Because of Rylan's special needs, and Paige not being able to afford special schooling, Leta and Paige are [[homeschooling]] Rylan, though it leaves him without any friends.  (He also has no male who could possibly be a "father figure": Paige's father died unexpectedly her last year of high school, and her brother has been in and out of jail, forcing her to cut off ties with him.)

One day Paige was forced to bring Rylan to work as Leta could not babysit him that day.  Hayden unexpectedly saw Rylan at the dinner table; instead of being upset he actually started bonding with him, and over the next couple of days the two watched movies together.  When Hayden learns of Glenn's actions, he secretly contacts his company's security firm, hoping that somehow he can recover all or some of the stolen funds.  Sensing that Rylan needs friends (especially friends who won't tease him for his disability), he invites him and Paige to swim at his apartment's indoor heated pool, mainly to meet his nieces (Rachel and Isla, who have known Hunter since after his injury and have been very kind to him).  Paige also meets the other siblings: Hunter (and his wife Carissa) and Heather (along with her fiancee Ash; as a follow-up to the prior book his business has grown, now having two full-time employees plus two trainees).  Paige and Rylan (and Leta) are invited to continue the traditions of the past two years: the company children's Christmas party, the children's Christmas program at church (with Rachel and Isla as featured soloists), Christmas Eve dinner and service, and the "Christmas pajama sleepover", which they accept to some degree (they prefer to have Rylan sleep in his own bed on Christmas Eve but agree to come over, pajamas included).

One day Paige was forced to bring Rylan to work as Leta could not babysit him that day.  Hayden unexpectedly saw Rylan at the dinner table; instead of being upset he actually started bonding with him, and over the next couple of days the two watched movies together.  When Hayden learns of Glenn's actions, he secretly contacts his company's security firm, hoping that somehow he can recover all or some of the stolen funds.  Sensing that Rylan needs friends (especially friends who won't tease him for his disability), he invites him and Paige to swim at his apartment's indoor heated pool, mainly to meet his nieces (Rachel and Isla, who have known Hunter since after his injury and have been very kind to him).  Paige also meets the other siblings: Hunter (and his wife Carissa) and Heather (along with her fiancee Ash; as a follow-up to the prior book his business has grown, now having two full-time employees plus two trainees).  Paige and Rylan (and Leta) are invited to continue the traditions of the past two years: the company children's Christmas party, the children's Christmas program at church (with Rachel and Isla as featured soloists), Christmas Eve dinner and service, and the "Christmas pajama sleepover", which they accept to some degree (they prefer to have Rylan sleep in his own bed on Christmas Eve but agree to come over in the morning on Christmas Day, pajamas included).

During this time, Hayden has a recurring nightmare, reliving the last words of his father (he asks Hayden to tell his mother, Hunter and Heather he loved them, but never told Hayden he loved him as he was interrupted by another car hitting them, killing him and leaving Hayden in a coma).  Hayden opens up to Paige, sharing with her another long-held secret of the accident: Hayden had never taken his role in the company that seriously and his father was disappointed in his work, and were on their way to dinner to further discuss things; they were in the midst of an argument when the accident took place.  In turn, Paige admits she didn't re-enroll Rylan in school, not only due to financial issues, but because she feared he would look at other children and only think about his own limitations.  She also says a motorized wheelchair was in the works, but Glenn's theft of the settlement fund kept that from happening.

During this time, Hayden has a recurring nightmare, reliving the last words of his father (he asks Hayden to tell his mother, Hunter and Heather he loved them, but never told Hayden he loved him as he was interrupted by another car hitting them, killing him and leaving Hayden in a coma).  Hayden opens up to Paige, sharing with her another long-held secret of the accident: Hayden had never taken his role in the company that seriously and his father was disappointed in his work, and were on their way to dinner to further discuss things; they were in the midst of an argument when the accident took place.  In turn, Paige admits she didn't re-enroll Rylan in school, not only due to financial issues, but because she feared he would look at other children and only think about his own limitations.  She also says a motorized wheelchair was in the works, but Glenn's theft of the settlement fund kept that from happening.