NEW YORK — It’s hometowns week on the “Golden Bachelor!” Mel would be visiting Peg, Deb, and Cindy’s hometowns and families. By the end of the episode, he would choose his final two.
Peg’s Hometown
Mel started in Las Vegas, Nevada to meet Peg and her family. Peg said she never brought anyone to her firehouse before so it was special for her to bring Mel there! Peg joked she had a career on the pole, a fire pole! Peg showed Mel all of the cool tools of the trade and the devices she used on the bomb squad. Can you imagine getting rescued by Peg, so cool!
Gina: What a fun time! Even Mel, who doesn’t show a lot of emotion, seemed to be enjoying himself. Also, Peg, are any of those firefighters single? Asking for a friend. Ok, for me. I’m asking for me.
Peg’s mother is a fan of “Bachelor Nation” and her daughter Dakota wondered if her mom and Mel would be holding hands when they walked in, and they were! She immediately teared up seeing her mom! Her brother, Guy, and his wife, Brenda, also met Mel along with Dakota’s boyfriend, Kohl. Guy and Mel seemed like instant buddies. They had a heartfelt talk about Peg and what Guy wishes for her is just that she end up with someone kind that can keep up with her. Her mom, Dorothy, asked Peg if she would say yes to a proposal and she said she would! Dakota asked if Mel was in love with Peg and he said he was not yet. Mel admitted he wasn’t sure if he would get there by the end. Dakota said she was not put at ease by his responses. Mel said that he might not propose to anyone, but he hopes to find someone. He said that if he wasn’t serious about getting married again he wouldn’t be the case. Mel told Dakota that he would do his best to treat Peg as she deserves.
She told her mom that Mel is nice, but that she is still worried. She is concerned that she could end up hurt at the end. Dakota said that if Mel proposes she would welcome him into the family. Peg and Mel said goodbye with some kisses, but neither said the L-word.
Gina: “How are you feeling about my mom?” “Great.” “Okaaaayyyyy.” Peg’s daughter was all of us in that conversation. We keep wanting to hear SOMETHING from Mel. I give her credit for continuing to press to see if she can get any sort of clarity and I like that she alerted Peg about her concerns. She loves her mom and doesn’t want to see her disappointed by a guy who might not commit to her.
Debbie’s Hometown
Mel traveled to Denver, Colorado to meet Debbie’s friends and family. Mel said that he has a very soulful connection with her. Debbie took Mel to Red Rocks and Mel said, “It looks fake.” Ha! She said it has been 14 years since she’s brought anyone home to meet her family. Debbie said that when she was last in love there was a tragic ending. She said right before she was 51, he was going to propose. She thought his depression and behavior was concerning and she tried to break up with him and they were on and off. She eventually broke it off and then two weeks later he took his life. How terrible! She said that altered her forever. Debbie said it has taken her 10 years to move on and she moved to Denver to be closer to her sister, Judy. Debbie says she is ready for love and she is falling for Mel.
Gina: This story broke my heart. I mean, we all have had little things change how we look at love and relationships. This is such a monumental thing to have happened. I’m glad she took time to sort through those feelings, and it makes her taking this huge step to be on the show feel even more meaningful.
Everyone at her sister’s house freaked out when they arrived. Mel awkwardly entered the backyard but they all made him feel right at home. She had her siblings there to meet Mel! He said you could feel right away how close knit they all were. Mel played some football with Debbie’s brothers, Ron and Steve, it was cute. Debbie even has a twin named Donna! What a great group they are. Mel told Judy that he sincerely likes her sister and that she’s dear in his heart. Her family is being very supportive and they just really want the best for Debbie. She said she would extraordinarily devastated if he didn’t pick her.
Gina: Jen, you and I have talked about it a lot over the seasons when we get to this point. Hometowns are a crucial compatibility test. And yes, we saw Mel fit in, toss a football around and sort of just be with Debbie’s family. But we didn’t hear much from him and that always concerns me.
Cindy’s Hometown
Mel’s last hometown was Austin, Texas to visit Cindy and her family. He called her his “beauty queen.” Cindy loves her life there, but said that she’s willing to give it all up to go wherever Mel wants to have a life with him. Cindy’s daughters are all beautiful! Mel met the three of them, one of their husband’s and the fiancée of the other one. She told her daughters she feels safe and secure with Mel. They were floored. They teared up hearing their mom say that she had “big” feelings and she was being careful about bringing him into their family. They even said they would support her moving to California. The son-in-laws had a fun chat with Mel where they said Cindy will love Saturdays with college football.
Gina: I believe this is the first we’ve heard anything about a move to California…from any of the women!
Mel asked one of her daughter’s, Sarah, why Cindy hasn’t found someone else yet and she said she just hasn’t found the right one. Mel said that he likes Cindy but he doesn’t yet know what the future holds. When she asked him if he could see himself with her in 20 years he kind of said that he wasn’t sure yet still.
Gina: She even noted that he’s being very tight-lipped. I get being mysterious or not showing all your cards, but give a little something. It makes it so hard for these families to support the situation if they can’t tell ANYTHING about Mel’s feelings!
Cindy and Sarah talked and she told her mother that Mel isn’t sure about her yet. Cindy said that she feels grounded and at peace with Mel. She feels that she’s excavating her old self and finding herself again after her divorce 7 years ago. She even told Sarah that she may love Mel. Sarah said she’s feeling protective, yet excited for her. “Does he love you so much that he’ll choose you, you only, forever?” she asked her mom.
Later, Cindy spent the evening with Mel as she took him to her “jewel box” of a condo. He seemed to get the most time with her. Cindy’s home is incredible! “Everything you told me, better,” Mel said about her family. He was very impressed by Cindy’s family and her life in general. Cindy revealed to Mel that her kids thought he was great, but they don’t know how he feels about her. “I’m really, really, really, falling for you,” Cindy said. She asked him for a gut check and he said that “it’s complicated.” “I do know that somebody will pick me, I hope it’s you,” Cindy said. Good for you Cindy! She seemed nearly tearful, and just hoped he would choose her at the rose ceremony. Mel revealed in his interview that he’s not in love yet… apparently with any of them.
Gina: These women are all so lovely, so sweet and kind and deserve someone who will reciprocate their feelings. From what we have seen, Mel has not given any of them any sort of inkling of how he’s feeling. As a viewer, this is tough. As one of the women on the show? I can’t even imagine how they must have been feeling throughout.
Rose Ceremony
Jesse welcomed the women back to the mansion for the big rose ceremony. They were all a bundle of nerves. Mel arrived and he was sad to have to send someone home because he feels they all deserve love.
1) Peg
2) Cindy
That meant Debbie was eliminated. My heart, and I’m sure Bachelor Nation’s, was breaking at that news. Debbie for “Golden Bachelorette!” I just want her to find happiness. Mel walked her out and said that his heart didn’t feel OK with it. Debbie said she knew how the show worked, but she just hoped it could be her. “Take cake of those girls, okay? OK.” And with that, Debbie got in the limo. “Be happy,” she told Mel through tears. Mel even teared up.
Gina: First, it’s a small gesture, but I loved how Debbie helped Cindy up onto that very narrow platform over the pool for the rose ceremony (Why, show? Why the platform when solid ground was just a couple of feet away?!). The love and respect these women have for each other is touching. Second, I found it interesting that Mel brought up the podcast-that-shall-not-be named and the “mea culpa” he has about it. It was nice to see that these women and this process changed his mind about what he wants in a partner and for him to acknowledge it to the women. Third, my heart dropped when he didn’t call Debbie’s name. Her saying “be happy” was so classy and gracious. I’ll keep saying it, Debbie for Golden Bachelorette!! I know that leaving in this way was devastating but I hope she knows that she deserves the absolute best. Mel may not have been that for her, and that’s OK.
Coming Up
Mel heads to Antigua for his final dates with Peg and Cindy. The women both have concerns. Peg is worried that Mel might make her wait around too long and Cindy seemed to worry that Mel might not be choosing her back. But before we can get to that big finale, we have “The Women Tell All” next week. And Gina was there!
Gina: Yes, I was! There were some funny moments, some dramatic moments and some comments I can’t wait for you to hear and to get your opinion. See y’all next week.
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