She leaned back in her chair, and he watched her heart break. "Les, are we to be married in name only?"
He took her hand under the table. "If it's all right with your father, I'll join your house for dinner and remain with you for a few hours before returning to my house. I believe your father will think this better. I doubt he'd wish to announce anytime soon that his daughter married a coal miner."
She nodded and sighed, squeezing his hand. "You're right but I don't want you to think I'm ashamed of you. I love you." Every time she said it, he was filled with both pleasure and pain.
He smiled. "One day soon, we'll live in the same house as man and wife, I swear it to you." And when the time came, he would not be Lester Paddon but Warren Leverton. "Give it time."
She smiled as another knock sounded at the door.
He leaned over the table, kissed her, and went to get their meals.