http://www.hulu.com/watch/908610
Fact: Ben Higgins is not ready for diaper duty.
As “The Bachelor” made his way across the great US of A during Monday’s episode, he let go of single mom Amanda after meeting her family and two children.
“I’m a little bit nervous to introduce him to my kids,” Amanda shares before Ben greets her scene-stealing tots, Charlie and Kingsley. “They’re not his kids, but at the end of the day, I want somebody to love them like they are his kids.”
Though Ben survives his brief adventure in parenthood, Amanda’s pop isn’t sure he’s ready to take on the role of dad full-time.
“Ben looked like a deer in the headlights,” Amanda’s father admits as he sits Ben down for a man-to-man chat. But before Ben says goodbye, he leaves dear old Dad with a promising sentiment.
“Amanda and my relationship has been very real. Leading up to this, there has been a lot of hypothetical talk,” he says. “She is looking for somebody to be that father. They’re two amazing little girls.”
After his visit to the Golden State, Ben treks north to Portland, Oregon, where he and Lauren B. connect over grilled cheese and whiskey. But as the brown-eyed charmer sips his drink by the fire, Lauren debates whether to drop the love bomb on him.
“If I get my family’s approval, I will definitely tell Ben I love him,” Lauren explains in her confessional.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/908589
And while Ben wins over Lauren’s sister Molly, Papa Bushnell is going to take some convincing.
“Marriage is something that means a lot to me and with Lauren, it’s more real than I ever thought it could feel,” Ben tells the family patriarch.
Though Lauren fails to tell Ben how she really feels, she’ll have to wait until he wraps the two remaining hometown dates. And while his trek to the toy factory with Caila is far less creepy than it sounds, he walks into a Texas-size nightmare ahead of Jojo’s date.
After receiving a handwritten letter from her ex-boyfriend Chad, the bubbly real estate developer gives him a quick call as Ben stalks up her sidewalk. And while their afternoon gets off to an awkward start, the day continues to go downhill upon a visit to the Fletcher household.
“I know that Jojo has struggled to open up to me. But I’m a little bit nervous about meeting her family and tonight, I could be potentially meeting my future in-laws,” Ben shares.
Instead of breaking bread and swapping stories over red wine, Jojo’s brothers launch a verbal attack on their sister’s famous new beau.
“My brother and I are really protective of our sister. I love to say that this guy is terrific, but I genuinely can’t say that,” her sibling shares ahead of Ben’s ambush in the living room.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/908600
As Jojo mulls over her feelings with Mom and Dad, the Fletcher brothers press Ben on how sincere his emotions are and where he stands with their sister. Feeling rattled over the night’s unexpected turn of events, Jojo and Ben say farewell with more questions than answers.
“Today has been the most unpredictable hometown yet. I’m leaving Dallas feeling unsettled how Jojo’s brothers and I left this evening,” Ben confesses.
With the four remaining women returning to the mansion where the journey began, Ben makes his most heart-wrenching decision yet.
“Being able to come to your hometowns and to meet your families, it means a lot to me,” Ben explains. “I also saw why I’ve cared so much for each of you, and why you’re the women you are.”
After giving Jojo his final rose of the evening, Ben says farewell to Amanda. As he escorts her to her limo, the man of the hour fights back tears as he watches her ride off into the Los Angeles sunset.
“I would like her to know that I care a lot,” Ben chokes up. “It means a lot that she trusted me enough to let me be with her kids.”
With three women remaining, Ben will take an extra-special step with the ladies next week when they take a trip inside the Fantasy Suites.