NEW YORK – Jessica caught the heart of NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer, and Tara fumbled, on Wednesday’s finale of “The Bachelor.”
Earlier, an overanxious Tara tossed her cookies.
Palmer, backup quarterback for the New York Giants, had begun the ABC dating series with his pick of 25 eligible mates. Then, week by week, he narrowed the field to two blond finalists: Tara, a 23-year-old general contractor from Oklahoma, and California law student Jessica B., 22.
“This whole thing to me is like a dream,” Jesse told Jessica at the moment of truth, “and tomorrow morning I’m gonna wake up from that dream into the real world. But I don’t want to wake up tomorrow morning if I can’t wake up with you.”
Jesse’s “gut instinct” was telling him they were meant to spend their lives together, he said, but added, “I am not ready to propose to you tonight. I think that we need more time to grow and learn about each other.”
“That’s all I want,” she said.
Jesse produced a one-way plane ticket to New York, inviting her “to chase all your dreams, but do it with me.”
Then Tara was fetched from her limousine, where she had retreated after throwing up in a hedge.
“I don’t want you to say anything,” Tara tearfully told Jesse. “You would make me happier than any other person in this entire world, if I am the girl standing here at the very end.”
“Tara,” replied Jesse, “I’ve fallen in love with someone else.”
The series has done well for ratings-strapped ABC, drawing 12.5 million viewers last week. During this, its fifth season, it has ranked 21st in households.
Associated Press
Jessica B. won Jesse Palmer’s heart on “The Bachelor.”
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