Thankfully on Monday night we had one very normal and drama-free Hometown date on The Bachelor. Bachelor Ben Higgins met 25-year-old Alaska Airlines flight attendant Lauren Bushnell in her hometown of Portland, Oregon where her devout Christian parents David and Kristin Bushnell live. Lauren’s home and family seemed very very “normal” —- at least by Bachelor standards.
Lauren claimed that she was very happy to “do everyday things”–which I think is perfect for Ben who was clearly way too “normal” for his ex girlfriend or for Kaitlyn Bristowe.
Lauren starts by taking Ben to the Whiskey Library where Ben and Lauren sit on the couch in front of a fireplace and talk and Ben plays with Lauren’s hair!
He confesses to her that he was very worried she’d leave on the 1st night (then WHY did you give the 1st impression rose to Olivia?) He also appears very nervous for the impending family meeting.
The family has dinner and Lauren’s adorable look alike sister Mollie Bushnell pulls Ben aside to grill/talk to Ben about his feelings for her sister. Interestingly we learn that Lauren broke up with an ex boyfriend fairly recently!–which means all of Ben’s final 3 recently broke up with an ex boyfriend.
Anyhow Mollie asks for a “rundown”! I love that a “rundown” is needed here as Mollie and her family decide whether or not they will approve of Ben proposing to Lauren in two weeks.
“Naturally I have some doubts…give me a rundown”, she says.
“How do I know that you are not saying this to all these other families?” (first of all Mollie, you can be certain, he is).
But Ben being such a professional responds,
“if im on one knee and asking Lauren to marry me, I mean it.”
Mollie replies,
“obviously I’m a little skeptical still….any guy would fall in love with her so what makes her stand out to you.” (Wow! What a professional line of questioning!)
Ben says,
“theres something about your sister that I can’t put words to…I feel really lucky” and then in the most brilliant move I have ever seen on this show Ben turns and starts crying!–which prompts Mollie to say “Ok you just answered my question”.
Mollie does admittedly still have some doubts saying that sister Lauren “gets really invested really quickly. I’ve seen her in the past fall in love with guys. I worry she will get so wrapped up in the process.”
Then Mollie sits down with her sister saying,
“you haven’t been single that long”…“what makes Ben different”
Mollie concedes,
“the last relationship that I got out of was less than a year ago…and my feelings for Ben are different than I’ve ever felt for anyone”, which I found super cute since she is all of 25 and has probably been in 3 relationships her whole life.
Lauren asks her sister,
“are you asking if im in love with Ben?”
“I feel like Ben’s my person”…”I was meant to meet Ben…I’m definitely in love with Ben.”
Then Ben has to sit down with Lauren’s dad David Bushnell. Ben tells her dad “when I saw her for the 1st time the world stopped.”
“Kristy and I dated for many many years before we got married so we had a chance to understand who the other person was”, David responds.
How come parents are always doubting the “process”??!!! He had 9 weeks David! That is plenty of time to choose a life partner.
“If Im down on one knee at the end of this it will because its real” Ben says.
“At this point with Lauren its more real than I ever thought I could ever feel”, he continues.
Ben also starts crying when the dad asks about the 2 other women.
As difficult and emotional as this Hometown was it was nothing compared to what was next!!!
Ben Higgins on Jojo’s brother’s comment about ‘brainwashing’ her.
Interestingly, Chris Harrison just gave an interview talking about what a “good job” Ben did compartmentalizing these relationships. So in all seriousness her families concerns are legit. But make no mistake, Ben is not faking it. His feelings for these girls are real!
Seriously check out the brutal previews for the finale. Ben even drags Jojo in to the bathroom thinking he is evading microphones to confess his love for her.
In the end Ben will propose. But according to producers Ben was seriously torn up till the very end — even while he was choosing the engagement ring.
Bachelor season 20 finale, airs on March 14th, 2016 on ABC
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