My mom and sisters arrived a couple days later, and my mom and Diana quickly set to work on planning the wedding. I kept Angelina and Heaven occupied by shopping. Angelina and Heaven would be my bridesmaids, and Shandolyn would be my maid of honor. I don't know why I'd chosen Shandolyn, because normally you're closest friend or family member is the Maid of Honor. Since I couldn't choose between Angelina and Heaven, I gave the opportunity to Shandolyn.

While, Angelina, Heaven, and I were out shopping, I found the perfect wedding dress. It was so beautiful that I just had to have it. I also found the perfect dresses for Heaven, Angie, and Shan.

Diana and my mom worked quickly and had the wedding set for the following weekend. My mom contacted all of my friends and invited them to Tulsa for the wedding. I knew my friends would be surprised by the news. I was nervous about seeing them as well. To me the wedding was an excuse to lie to more people.

Taylor put on the charm around the house when he was around my family. They just loved him. I wish they knew the truth about him, though. I wish they knew how he used woman for sex and left them like they were nothing. However, in order to know the truth about him, they’d have to know the truth about me as well, and I was not ready for that.

Two days before the wedding my dad, brothers, and Shandolyn flew out to Tulsa for the wedding rehearsal. The rehearsal went smoothly, and afterwards we went out for dinner.

When we got back to the house, my dad pulled me aside.

“Eden, you know I was upset with you about this,” he began.

My eyes dropped to the ground like a child who had just been scolded and nodded, but my dad put his hands on both sides of my face and lifted my head and continued to speak, “I’m sorry. I’ve seen you and Taylor together, and I believe you really do love him, and he seems to be treating you very well.”

“He is, dad,” I whispered. “He really is.”

“Well, I just wanted to tell you I love you, and I’m not upset with you anymore,” he said. “I guess I’m just not ready for my little girl to grow up yet.”

“Thank you, dad,” I said forcing a smile as I hugged him.

As soon as I reached my bedroom, I burst into tears.

“What’s wrong?” Taylor asked looking up from the book he was reading.

“My dad just gave us his blessing,” I cried as I collapsed onto the bed.

“That’s bad?” he inquired.

“Taylor, I am an awful person. I am lying to my entire family,” I sobbed. “They love me, and I’m lying to them.”

“You’re not an awful person, so stop crying,” Taylor sighed as he turned to me and cupped my face in his hand. “You’re doing what’s right for the baby.”

“But I’m lying to everyone in the process,” I pointed out.

“Eden, you need to pull yourself together,” Taylor spoke softly as he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “If you keep stressing out over this, something could happen to the baby. You don’t want that, do you?”

“Of course not,” I replied.

“Then settle down,” he commanded. “Quit thinking about it so much.”

“How can I not think about it, Taylor?” I asked. “Everything in my life has become a lie.”

“Not everything,” he said. “You’re still Eden. You’re still the same person I met at a club.”

“Oh, am I?” I replied raising an eyebrow. “You hardly knew me then, and you hardly know me now.”

“Eden, just go to sleep,” Taylor sighed. “The last thing we need is to get in a fight just before our big wedding.”

“Fine, you’re right,” I sighed as I stood up.

I silently changed into my pajamas and got into bed. Before my family arrived, Taylor and I had been sleeping in different rooms, but since they were there, we had to keep up the act at all times.

It felt so strange to live in a house and share a bed with someone I didn’t really know or love, for that matter. I knew he didn’t love me either, but he sure knew how to make everyone else believe he did. Sometimes, I wished he did really love me. The person Taylor was in front of our families and friends was amazing. It made me feel like I really did love him. But as soon as we were behind closed doors, he was someone else.

I stared up at the ceiling as I lay in bed. I couldn’t sleep. I felt awful. I couldn’t sleep in this bed of lies, so I went over to the couch in the bedroom and lay down. I hated myself for what I was doing, but I thought about my baby, and I knew I had to go through with this.