So here's the scoop. I've known this girl for several years now, we've worked together, played together, really hit it off. This last summer we worked at a bible camp together, and the last day of working together I asked her if she wanted to maintain the charade (we hadn't spoken to each other about liking each other or anything, and were kinda pretending we didn't have any feelings for each other) she said no, I said I liked her a whole lot, she said she liked me, we changed the subject, end of story. However, when her dad found out, he got super mad, and nearly cut me out of their families life. Anyway, there was some reconciliation, but I still haven't talked with her or seen her except once for 5 months. But I really do love her, and I want the best for her, and I don't want to lose her to someone else. Now, the problem is, I'm building my business right now, so far I'm only at about the $12,000 a year mark, so not enough to support a wife, and so I really have zero chips to come to the table with. We've talked a lot and I really want to make something of this, but don't know what to do next. I've considered some options, like maybe secretly courting if her Dad still won't let me see her after I've got my business up and running, possibly eloping or getting secretly married some time in the future, etc. But she's the most amazing woman I've ever met, and I don't want to have all this come apart at the seams just because I told her I liked her. So any and all advice would be appreciated. She's 18 and I'm 22, if that helps at all.