His sourdough starter got the window seat

He asked if I minded him bringing something homemade to our first date. I'm a woman who considers bread a legitimate romantic gesture, so obviously I said yes. He arrived at the cafe with a jar of sourdough starter and put it in my chair. Apparently Gerald needed indirect sunlight. I moved. For twenty minutes, every question I asked became an update on Gerald. Hobbies? Feeding Gerald. Travel? Difficult with Gerald. What was he looking for? A woman who understood that Gerald came first. Then he asked me to hold the jar against my stomach because the room was drafty. I declined custody. He wrapped it in his scarf and said, within my hearing, “Some people aren't nurturing.” When my toast arrived, he turned the jar toward the wall. “Don't make him watch.” I paid for my coffee and left. He texted that Gerald had picked up on my negative energy. I told him I hoped they could rise above it.