Recap of the 'Bachelorette': Katie has chosen her last four competitors. Is Andrew's exit for good?

Recap of the 'Bachelorette': Katie has chosen her last four competitors. Is Andrew's exit for good?

Even spoiler blogs were wrong, but Katie from ABC's "The Bachelorette" has chosen her final four.

Katie suffered some painful goodbyes in Monday's episode, as she cut down her pool from seven to four after a sweet second one-on-one date with Greg. The stakes for giving away roses are higher with hometown dates coming up next week.

Brendan and Mike P. were the first two people to leave this week, and neither of them got any one-on-one time with Katie. After discovering he wouldn't get a single date this week, Brendan wondered why he was still standing, and when Mike P. finally got his one-on-one, it was so uncomfortable that his exit looked imminent. 

The third farewell, on the other hand, was unexpected. The following is how it went down:

Andrew's heartbreaking exit (and return)

Katie is the least certain she's been all season about who to send home as she heads into this week's rose ceremony after delivering a one-on-one date rose to Greg (his second!) and a group-date rose to Michael A. Finally, she gives flowers to Blake and Justin, signaling the end of Andrew's tenure on the program. ...or isn't it?

Katie breaks down in tears as she describes Andrew as "wonderful" and expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to meet him. Andrew returns the tears by telling her he'll "forever keep you, dear, to my heart" before bidding her farewell and driving away from the resort.

He reflects, "It's heartbreaking." "This is the first time I've ever felt this strongly about a lady. I put my heart and soul into everything I did, and she had stronger ties. It aches because I put my whole heart and soul into it."

It's the first decision Katie has made that she wasn't fully confident in, and it's clear even into the next day that she's struggling with it.

Cue: a knock at the door. It's Andrew, who determined it "it would not be like me or the relationship we had to leave on a not-smiling, happy note." They have another emotional goodbye, at the end of which he pulls out a letter for Katie meant to be read once he leaves. 

“If your thinking changes... I'll be ready when you are "He drew a smiling face on his paper. "Andrew, with love”

Katie bursts into tears again and pursues Andrew down the hotel stairs and into the lobby, leaping into his arms for another hug.

She tells him, "I had to see you." "Would you like to remain a bit longer if there was a way? You have the option of saying no or yes."

Andrew considers returning the invitation but eventually declines: He's already been rejected by her, and he doesn't want to go through it again.

He later comments, "I wanted to say yes." "There's nothing I'd like more than to be with her." Dude, she (expletive) dashed down the steps. And I declined. However, I want my future wife to pick me. And because I wasn't picked, I had to decline. This is something I don't want to go through again. I don't want to be at another rose ceremony, waiting for her to reject me.”

They separate with the last kiss, which, if we're being honest, feels a bit too intense for two people parting up.