PLEASANT GROVE — There's a new couch in the Lindsay home that has people talking.
While the sofa is nothing special, neighbors continue to inquire about its sudden appearance — who bought it and with what money?
The answer, however, is kept behind the tight lips of Margie Lindsay, who is the mother of Karen Lindsay — the woman NFL star Jesse Palmer almost didn't give a rose to on the first episode of ABC's latest installment of "The Bachelor."
"I just can't say anything," Margie Lindsay explains. "Karen's not supposed to tell very much or she'll be fined 5 million dollars. She's only told us a few things."
Despite that inside scoop, the Lindsays are glued to their television each Wednesday night to see what happens to their daughter on the popular reality show — in which 25 women vie for the affections of the New York Giants backup quarterback, who eliminates contestants during a weekly rose ceremony.
Claw marks on the Lindsays' couch are remnants of the first episode, in which Palmer accidentally gave Karen's rose to fellow contestant Katie, before admitting that he had simply forgotten Karen's name. He has since made up for the error — Karen is one of the remaining six women.
Though each woman seems pitted against the others, Karen Lindsay told the Deseret Morning News that clever editing and stereotyping hides the friendships that nearly all of the women — except "bad girl" Trish — have forged with each other. For that reason, Lindsay calls the show "anything but real."
"Since there are no actors, they have to make up characters for each of us," Lindsay said. "But I didn't feel like I was on a TV show. It felt like I was on a massive vacation to a mansion that happens to be a sorority house."
As a result, she had the "best time of her life" making the show and even spent some quality time with Palmer, though the majority never made it on air because he has a "potty mouth," Lindsay said.
"Jesse is an awesome person, super nice and very sincere," she said. "He's not your typical jock. He's very well-rounded, but he was very much a 25-year-old football player."
Catching Palmer's eye didn't take much effort for Lindsay, who was crowned Miss Rhode Island in 1999.
She still lives in the small Eastern state, where she works as a pharmaceutical sales representative, but frequently visits her family in Pleasant Grove, where she graduated from high school. A scholarship opportunity led her to Rhode Island and eventually to an open casting call for "The Bachelor" that was held in Providence.
"I had a good feeling about it. I knew it would be a crazy adventure," said Lindsay, who recently realized her new fame when someone stuck a camera into a bathroom stall to snap a picture of her.
While the attention can be "very intrusive," Lindsay said she isn't ruling out a future career in television or film. Lindsay said she and three other contestants are talking about moving to California together.
Meanwhile, Palmer will be asked on this Wednesday's episode to whittle the playing field down to four women by going on one-on-one dates with the contestants.
Though Lindsay admitted that she "didn't click on a romantic level" with Palmer, she wouldn't reveal the final outcome.
And whatever happens, Margie Lindsay isn't concerned.
"It's good exposure, and the opportunity that it might present are great," she said. "Because I'm the mom, I think she's the most adorable."
E-mail: lwarner@desnews.com