It’s now official: Brad Womack chose blonde Emily Maynard and asked her to marry him. Was it just me or did Brad forget to give Emily the final rose? In reality, a five-digit ring spoke volumes louder than a thorny red rose.
During the meeting with Brad’s family, both Chantal and Emily scored points with the mother, siblings and sisters-in-law. Brad’s mom hit it off with Chantal while there was some reservation dealing with Emily. The mother explained it to looking at the girl whom his son would be marrying. After those meetings, viewers were assured that it would become an Emily pick, however, the Last Chance Dates found the bachelor somewhat torn between the blonde and the brunette. It looked like Chantal had the Neil Lane diamond ring in the bag specially when Emily sabotaged her standing with Brad during their final date. The man made it known that he wasn’t only ready to be a husband, he was willing to be a father (not just a stepdad) to five-year old Rickie. Emily couldn’t help but bring up the what if’s… the unscheduled obligations in raising a child, e.g. trips to the emergency room, not being able to watch the game like he used to as a single man because there's a child in the picture. Was Brad prepared to do all that?
On what should have been the most romantic date before the Final Rose Ceremony, Brad found himself hot and bothered from being questioned. Emily just wanted to make sure that he knew what he was getting into so that there wouldn’t be any surprises in the real world. Their date ended with Emily looking like she just threw herself under the bus and Brad walking away like he just spent a day in hell.
Cape Town, South Africa provided a magnificent setting for the proposal. It was a lovely venue that witnessed Chantal’s tears flow from her heartbreak. Brad’s rejection of her deserved another slap on the face which she gave him on their first meeting, but Chantal was too nice in the end to even bother.
The “After The Final Rose” brought news that made me realize the shallowness of the participants’ feelings. Chantal who proclaimed her love for Brad is, a few months after the taping wrapped up, now in a happy relationship. She shared the news that she met her guy while the show was airing. Not even a year has passed and she’s all over Brad? I was under the impression that “The Bachelor” players weren’t even allowed to date during the run of the episodes, specially someone like Chantal who was one of the last women standing.
Then Chris Harrison revealed that Brad and Emily had broken up during the show telecast, got back together and planned to wed in Anguilla (where the romance blossomed) on the day of the finale telecast. Unfortunately, Emily held out wanting more time to experience her relationship with Brad in the real world. Obviously, having a child puts things in perspective no matter how desirous Brad was to seal the deal. In addition, there have been relationship issues that need to be addressed before a wedding ring comes into the picture.
Trista and Ryan Sutter, Jason and Molly Mesnick and the future Roberto and Ali Martinez were on hand to give advice to the newly bethroned. Brad and Emily were told to ignore the tabloids, to focus on the “us”, and to work hard on the relationship after the show.
I wish Brad and Emily well, but the picture of the happily ever after seems elusive at this time. Emily looks defensive while Brad is too eager to please. Maybe that's why they complement each other. Hopefully, I prove myself wrong the same way I seriously erred picking Chantal for Brad based on their body language. I’m a hopeless romantic and I have nothing but the best of wishes for Womack and his woman. May they end up finding joy.
