Everyone was served and were now chowing down on their delicious dinner.
"I just would like to... say a few things before I start to eat." Bridget quietly spoke.
"Oh, you're one of those, huh, Bee?" Bruce joked with his sister, playfully nudging her. Which, consequently, did earn Bruce a good kick in the shin underneath the table.
"Ow! What the Fu.." Bruce shook his head before he finished.
"Yeah dad? What the fu...?" Jay giggled as he patiently waited to hear what his aunt wanted to say.
"What the Fudge.. Is what I was going to say." Bruce gave his cocky son a mischievous smile.
"Bruce." Elisha gave her son the, 'stern momma' look. Which, they all backed down from. Each sibling has learned their lesson from not backing down from that look. She said it all with her pouted lips, her unrelenting eyes that widened, and arched brows.
Everyone looked over to Bridget at the end of the long dark oak dining table. Bridget got somewhat nervous seeing every eye was on her. She started feeling her voice get shaky, again.
"Aunt Bee, I wanna hear what you have to say, but talk fast like a speed racer. 'Cause my tummy is hungry." Tony added.
"Tony, what have we discussed about interruptions when someone is talking?" Monica calmly told her boy, while she tried to make Elisha's, 'stern momma' look, but she had to get much more practice.
"Everyone, please eat. I didn't mean not to eat. Dinner will get cold. I just want to tell you all something. Please, please start eating." Bee smiled, seeing everyone go back to digging in their food, except for her mother and father.
"I love you all so much, there are not words I can say to express exactly how much I truly love you all." Bridget swiped her index finger over her eye, as a tear was forming.
"And... Also, well... I'd like to apologize, to you all --"
"Bee... Bridget, honey.. There is no need to be sorry, we are your family. You've done nothing to apologize for." Her dad chirped in. Julian was sitting to the right of Bridget. He set his hand over his daughter's much tinier and petite hand.
Julian could tell by just feeling her hand, underneath his own, that Bee was working herself up. The palm of Bridget's hand was placed on the table top, so firmly, it was as if she had super glue on her palm.
Julian eased his girl's hand gingerly, until he held her hand in his. He traced his thumb over Bridget's hand, only trying to soothe her.
"Jules..." Elisha gently said, widening her eyes a little.
"Let her finish." Elisha whispered to her husband.
Elisha knew Bridget had no need to apologize, either. As a matter of fact, her whole family knew that. Regardless, Elisha didn't want anyone to keep Bridget from speaking. Elisha knew Bridget was normally shy and didn't say much for the past several gatherings. Elisha wanted Bridget to say what she obviously needed to say, since this was such a huge step forward for her dearest daughter.
"Go on, Bee." Monica glowed a radiant smile, as Monica noticed, Elisha getting a tad bit upset when Bridget would get interrupted. The whole family really did want to hear what their honey Bee had to say.
"Anyway.. Hmm. Um.." Bridget stammered trying to remember what exactly to say, especially again now that a few of them had finished dinner, and all eyes were back upon her.
"I am sorry for what I've put you through, and I know how much has been put on each one of your shoulders. The pain and sorrow I've brought into this house, and into my family. I am sorry, and I do feel like I need to apologize. It's terrible to have you all go through this, as you watch me go through it. I am truly sorry. I never knew how bad this had escalated, and for some reason I finally understand what I need to do. I don't completely understand, because there is so much to understand. But, the point is, I'm going to be doing some changes, and you all won't have to deal with all of this for much longer. I think I know what I need to do, to get myself up and out of the funk I've been in. I think... I think I do. I guess I'm beginning to understand more and more. For now, I'll be taking small steps to get wherever I need to get, and I'll be... Well, hopefully I'll be a better person when I'm through. Okay, I think that's the end my of my speech..." Bridget chuckles, wiping away a few more tears, before anyone could see them.
