Vacation ‘mystery theft’ leaves couple in limbo

DEAR AMY » My boyfriend and I have been together for eight years, but live separately.

Recently he told me that if I don’t see him as a lifelong partner, then we should break up.

He said I don’t trust him and that mistrust shows up on day-to-day interactions, especially when we travel.

I have an anxiety disorder, diabetes and food allergies, so I need to know exactly where we are going, where to eat, etc. He is more casual about it.

The mistrust stems from my suspicion that he stole my money while we were traveling two years ago.

He said he didn’t do it, but I lost $200 the day we got to the destination, and then 10 days later it magically reappeared in my money bag.

I am very meticulous with my money. I even wrote down the serial numbers of the bills.

What I have not told him was that one day I looked into his wallet. I found three fresh $20 bills that matched my missing bills.

I know if I told this to him, he would want to break up. I have already forgiven him, but he keeps bringing it up as an issue of mistrust. Should I tell

him? — Forgiving

DEAR FORGIVING » Not every relationship must lead to forever, but your guy seems to be declaring that it is time to fish or cut bait. Either that or he is laying the groundwork for a breakup, by basically accusing you of deal-breaking behavior.

I can understand why your anxiety disorder might lead you to be hyper-vigilant regarding day-to-day interactions. But according to you, you have a concrete reason not to trust him, as well as evidence that he took money from you. But if he removed this money and then replaced it, what were his motivations? Was he testing you? Was he trying to gaslight you?

You say you have forgiven him for this transgression, but I wonder if you have — or if you should.

What you should NOT do is continue to sweep this under the rug. Now is the time for you to be brave enough to confront him about this and present him with the proof you claim to have.

He may deny your accusation. But after two years, this incident is not going away. It seems to be symbolic of your larger problem as a couple, which is the inability to communicate about your behavior (hyper-vigilance), and his behavior (blaming and shaming), in order to find ways to move forward as a trusting, loving couple.