I’m the papa who asked for advice earlier about a possible pregnancy. She apparently took a pregnancy test yesterday, but it was invalid, so she plans to retest today. I don’t really understand how she can be so certain that the baby is mine and not her boyfriend’s. When I asked why, she said she used a condom with him, but went without one with me because she didn’t want me to lose interest in her.

You were the one waving money around and not putting one on, weren’t you? Normally, I put one on myself—even if I’m told, “It’s fine without one.”

No, based on the earlier question, it’s doubtful that she’s even pregnant in the first place. There’s no reason for the questioner to have to accept whether or not protection was used.

Pregnancy tests are completely useless in situations like this, where there’s a dispute over who the father is. Have her see an OB-GYN. Depending on the circumstances, it might be best for you to take her yourself. You should discuss things only after the pregnancy has been confirmed. She has a boyfriend, and there’s also a possibility that another papa (male supporter) is involved. Either way, you need to remain firm. That doesn’t mean dismissing her claims. Depending on the situation, you may need to hire a lawyer to negotiate on your behalf. Let me repeat: don’t panic or act rashly. And remember, arguing over her claims won’t accomplish anything. At the very least, you have no way to prove anything at this point. Incidentally, if she chooses to have an abortion, the basic rule is for the cost to be split between you and the woman—at least if the matter is resolved legally. If paternity hasn’t been established, you may be able to refuse payment, though whether that’s the best course of action is another question. As you probably know, if a DNA test confirms that you’re the father, the going amount for child support is around 20% of your annual income. This continues until the child turns 18 or 20.