Dear Annie: I’ve been dating a wonderful man for three years. He’s everything I could want in a partner, and I’m very happy with him. He came out of a long-term marriage that ended in divorce, while I lost my spouse to cancer shortly before we met. For the first year, we kept things casual, but we’ve been serious about a long-term relationship for the past two years.

Here’s the issue: He says he eventually wants to get married, but his actions don’t align with that. After three years together, I would think he’d be ready to take that step if he truly wanted to. I, on the other hand, do want to get married again at some point. Other than this, our relationship is outstanding; we share great chemistry, an emotional connection and similar interests. He’s the greatest love of my life, and I don’t want to jeopardize what we have.

That said, I also feel I deserve a partner who won’t hesitate to commit to marriage when the time comes. I don’t believe in giving ultimatums, but I’m struggling to reconcile staying with someone who may never want to marry. What would you do in my situation? — Stay or Go

Dear Stay or Go: If marriage is truly important to you and you sense that he may not share the same desire, it’s essential to have an honest and serious conversation with him. Take some time to reflect on why marriage holds such significance for you at this point in your life.

You’ve described a relationship with so many wonderful qualities — great chemistry, emotional connection and shared interests. Those are things many married couples would love to have. It sounds like you’ve built something truly special together.

Keep an open mind and focus on maintaining clear and honest communication. You may find that your relationship can continue to thrive, whether or not marriage is part of the equation.

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].