After a round of successful hometown dates, Charity chooses her final three men.
Nothing like meeting someone’s family to put your relationship with them into perspective.
To be fair, though, this was more of a slow-motion hug jump, but it still qualifies.
Aaron and Charity on ‘The Bachelorette’.ABC
“I feel a little anxious,” says Aaron.
“It’s been 10 years since I brought someone home to my parents.
But I’m really looking forward to today.
Aaron’s mom gets to the point on ‘The Bachelorette’.ABC
I think it’s going to go well.”
The couple are greeted warmly by Aaron’s family, who have prepared enough food for an army.
Frog legs, catfish, green beans, gumbo, fried lobsters, and more.
Eddie’s frames are fly.ABC
“This is definitely the way to my heart!”
says Charity with a laugh.
“Yes, ma’am!”
Aaron shoots his shot on ‘The Bachelorette’.ABC
Miraculously, rose lovers, everyone actually eats the food.
I guess producers knew better than to mess with Ethel.
After the meal, Erick takes his big brother outside for a chat.
Uncle Joe, Joey, and Charity on ‘The Bachelorette’.abc
“Aaron, she’s a nice girl,” he says.
Oh man, Erick, don’t start crying we’re barely 15 minutes into the episode.
I can’t get weepy yet!
Getting a little crowded on that couch.ABC
“Meeting Charity is very encouraging,” says Ethel.
“She seems very compassionate, very purposeful, and very warm.
I’m very pleased.”
Uncle Joe has concerns on ‘The Bachelorette’.ABC
Even so, Ethel has more questions.
Mom asks: “Would you be ready to say yes, or not?”
Dang, Ethel’s playing hardball.
A very tight-knit group (yes, I hate myself).ABC
“I would say, probably not,” admits the Bachelorette.
“But my answer would not be in reflection of who Aaron is or where I stand with him.
I value what a proposal means.
Xavier’s family is all smiles on ‘The Bachelorette’.ABC
I value saying yes and doing it only one time.
2: How adorable is Aaron’s dad?
Not the purple glasses!
Charity gets on her tippy toes to kiss Dotun on ‘The Bachelorette’.ABC
This man has style.
“Meeting you today, I get it,” Eddie tells Charity.
He also shares his rave reviews with Aaron: “What a sharp, articulate, beautiful young lady.
Give this family their own reality show, stat!.ABC
That’s what you would call a keeper.”
Amen to that, Eddie!
Awww, now they’re hugging and crying, and I’m gonna cry again, too.
Charity and Dotun at the drive-in on ‘The Bachelorette’.ABC
And it seems like Charity is feeling at home, too.
“I can’t wait to come back,” she tells Ethel.
Quite a bold statement, even if this isn’t Charity’s first hometown date.
Palmer’s been waiting on that patio since last week.ABC
(They’re not always shown in order of filming.)
Either way, mom LOVES to hear it: “From your lips to God’s ears!”
And you know what comes next, rose lovers:
“Awwwww,” says Charity.
What she does not say is, “I’m falling in love with you, too.”
But let’s not worry about that right now.
It’s so romantic, Charity is moved to tears.
“Tennis is a big part of my life,” says Joey.
“It’s probably where I feel the most comfortable.”
Charity changes into a cute purple tennis dress and gamely tries her hand at a few swings.
She’s having a great time.
“Joey makes me feel good,” she says.
“Joey makes me giddy.”
Well, get it together, girl Joey’s Uncle Joe just walked in!
I guess that’s what he’s doing here?
I mean, besides helping Joey teach Charity to play tennis.
“His opinion is probably the one that matters the most to me,” says Joey.
Oh man, you might regret saying that once you hear Uncle Joe’s opinion, buddy.
“I like Charity,” says Uncle Joe.
“But something didn’t feel 100 percent with Joey.”
Our queen cannot fall for a dissembler!
It simply will not stand!
Sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself.
Let’s head home to meet Joey’s family, shall we?
“It’s scary.”
It is, of course, what Carly was hoping to hear.
Meanwhile, Cathy is having a heart-to-heart with her son.
And mom, bless her, has complete confidence that her son won’t have her heart broken.
“There’s no doubt about that.”
That “if” is doing a lot of work, and Joey can’t help but push back.
“Do you think I’m not being me, not being real?
Are you doubting that?”
he asks his mom.
Cathy demurs No, of course not but Joey’s response concerns me.
Am I overthinking this?
Has Uncle Joe messed with my mind?
Speak of the skeptical relative and he shall appear.
“You, today, on the tennis court I dunno,” says Uncle Joe.
And we’ve been down this road a ton.”
Either way, it’s not a good situation for Charity.
Joey doesn’t say anything, so Uncle Joe continues pushing.
“How confident are you that you’ve been your most genuine self?”
Of course, Joey answers without hesitation: “Very confident!”
Joey is a little bit of a pleaser," says Uncle Joe.
“I want to see Joey in a relationship where he’s comfortable being 100 percent Joey.”
“It’s going to be challenging to see to it it’s real,” notes Uncle Joe.
“So, I’d like to hear what Charity has to say about that.”
Okay, Ms. Lawson, take a seat.
Sir, how would she know the difference?
She’s only ever met “guy onBachelorette” Joey.
“You guys would know that way better,” says Charity.
“But I have not sensed anything other than just genuineness from him.”
Of course, this line of questioning is making the Bachelorette nervous.
“I’m, like, very much confused,” she says.
“It’s concerning.
It’s alarming a little bit.
Maybe I’m missing something, but what is it that I’m missing?”
It’s clearly weighing on Charity, who bursts into tears while hugging Joey goodbye.
“Are they happy tears?”
“She’s not looking at me, she’s just crying,” he frets.
“Was that a goodbye?”
We’ll have to put a pin in that question because it’s time for… “How long can you hold your breath?”
He’s just kidding, rose lovers.
When Xavier says “crazy,” he means “knitting class.”
Everyone is super chill and friendly, as you’d expect.
“He was just in his element.”
From there it’s on tothe Blue Cafefor a pre-dinner chat.
But as we know, rose lovers, this show ignores logic and reason and all that boring stuff.
All right, time to meet Xavier’s lovely family.
Oh man, when Xavier basically tackle-hugged his mom on the couch, I almost started crying again.
“Their energy with one another, I was like, ‘Woah,'” raves Tracey.
“I thought they seemed like they have been together for a very long time.”
Are you falling in love with him?
Are you already there?"
Little sister thinks so, which of course makes Charity feel better.
Tracey echoes her daughter’s sentiments about Xavier, saying he wants to be married and have a family.
If he’s afraid, adds mom, it’s simply because of the accelerated timeline which is fair.
Indeed, Xavier asks his dad for some guidance.
“How do you know when it’s right?”
“How do know that it’s going to last for 30 years?”
Clarence says it all comes down to a feeling.
“Nothing else matters when you’re with that person,” he says.
“Knowing that that person has your back.”
Still, he’s not sure whether his son is truly in love with the Bachelorette.
“He’s feeling something,” notes Clarence.
“Whether that’s love or not, I’m going to let him decide that.”
To hear Xavier tell it to his mom, at least he is ready to commit to Charity.
“I have a very strong connection with her,” he says.
“Oh, goodness!”
she cries, before going in for a smooch.
It’s time to meet Dotun’s family!
But first, how cute are these two together?
He has to bend down SO MUCH to kiss her, it’s adorable.
Hey buddy, don’t forget grandma!
“She is a whole vibe and a half,” says Dotun lovingly.
Me too, Grandma!
It’s Dotun’s mom, Adenike, and his dad, whose name we never learn!
They came back from Nigeria to see their boy and the woman he (almost) loves!
I honestly could not be more obsessed with this family.
“Are you kidding me?”
cries Dotun gleefully, over and over again.
But Adenike pulls Dotun for a chat first.
She says she likes Charity and wants to know if her son is in love with her.
“It’s definitely falling in love with her,” he says.
Imagine, rose lovers a Bachelorette contestant who’s allowing his brain to get involved in the decision-making process!
It’s just one more reason Dotun is a wonder.
“He is someone who’s truly super special,” says Charity, tearing up.
Mom seems pleased with that answer.
“Big time!”
kindly let this happen, and kindly let ABC send cameras.
It would be the bestBachelorfranchise wedding special EVER.
“I love you!”
Temitayo informs Charity as they say their goodbyes.
“I’m a person who looks for direct signs,” she says.
Butthisrelationship isn’t similarly doomed!
(Welcome back, buddy!)
“My relationships with the guys, everyone, they all got stronger,” says Charity.
“It’s just making my decision a lot harder.”
What could possibly go wrong?
Anyhow, let’s move on to the main event.
Rose ceremony roll call!
“This has been the hardest day of my life,” Charity begins.
“I’ve been going back and forth all day on what to do.
But it’s necessary to what I want… God help me.”
He will, ma’am!
Wow, that’s a twist.
Aaron closes his eyes and tries to absorb the blow.
All the men hug him goodbye, and then Charity walks him outside to the Bye-Bye Bench.
“I need you to understand how difficult a decision this was for me.”
“I hate that it wasn’t me because I really thought…” Aaron trails off.
“I thank God for you.”
This just makes Charity sob harder.
“I’m sorry it wasn’t me,” she says, and they share a sad hug.
As he rides away in the Reject SUV, Aaron is stunned.
“I just don’t know what I did wrong,” he says with a sigh.
Love just sucks, that’s all.
Welp, rose lovers, we’re down to three men.
Though at this point, the only guy who matters in my humble opinion is Dotun.
How are you feeling about the final three?
Was Charity wrong to send Aaron home?
And has your mother-in-law ever given you a gift “for the bedroom”?
Let me know on Twitter@KristenGBaldwin.
The Bacheloretteairs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
