A week passed and Joyce continued to make her way over to visit Hopper. Every time he would shout at her to leave or simply ignore her. The nurse explained that they had managed to contact Diane and although she thought visiting him would confuse him more, agreed that Sarah's medical records could be shared with him. Everyone hoped this would help him remember.
Today's visit was going to be no different, Joyce was certain of it, but she loved him and would never leave him there alone. Before she left Jonathan came to her.
"Mom, I was thinking about everything, and I was hoping this would help". He handed Joyce a box which she opened. It was full of photographs, family photographs. "I hope it helps him remember, we...we all miss him". Joyce hugged her eldest son. He didn't often show his emotions in front of her. He always felt that he had to be the strong one. She held him tight "thank you sweetie, this is, amazing".
Joyce arrived at the hospital and was greeted by Hoppers nurse.
"How is he today?" Joyce asked.
"Physically, really good he's a strong guy...mentally, well he's still pretty confused. He had another visitor this morning an older woman from the station?".
"Oh, Flo, how was he with her?"
"Good i think, she was here about an hour?".
Joyce thanked her and went inside.
Hopper was eating, when he saw her he stopped. "Hi" he said.
"Hey how are you feeling?"
"OK I guess, they gave me Sarah's medical records. I'm sorry I didn't believe you".
"You don't need to apologise Hop, I'm just sorry you had to go through it all again".
She held his hand but moved when he flinched away from her. Trying to hide her disappointment she handed him the box. "This is from Jonathan, he thought it might help you remember".
Hopper opened the box and looked inside. "Photo's" he said "of us and your kids".
"Not just my kids Hop" Joyce reminded him. He looked at her and nodded.
As he leafed through the pictures he started asking questions. Why wasn't Lonnie in any of the pictures? When did she have a daughter?
"Joyce I'm glad you got rid of that ass hole you and the boys deserve better". Then he held up a picture of El.
"I don't remember you having a daughter! She looks Wills age". Jeez, how to explain this one, Joyce thought.
"Actually, that's your daughter, you adopted her a few years ago. Her name is Jane, but we call her El".
Hopper looked confused. "Why?"
"Its a long story" she said.
Hopper stared at El "she likes eggos right?".
Joyce almost cried "yes Hop, yes...she loves them...you're remembering!".
"Slow down Joyce, I remembered a brand of waffles! That's all".
Visiting time was over for the day. Joyce got up to leave.
"Joyce, can I keep these, please?"
"Of course" she smiled and made her way to the door.
"Joyce? See you tomorrow?"
"Yes Hop, I'll see you tomorrow".
That night Hopper looked through the photos over and over, doing his best to remember his life with Joyce and their family. The photo of him with El made him smile but he couldn't remember why. He wondered why she looked so sad in some of the pictures. A nurse came in and Hopper showed her the photograph.
"This is my daughter, Jane, apparently I adopted her a few years ago" . The nurse smiles "she's pretty, looks like she loves her Papa". Without thinking Hopper replied "I'm not Papa, I'm Dad". The nurse apologised for upsetting him, he too apologised. Why did he react so badly to being called Papa?
The nurse sat with him for a while and looked through the pictures. The nurse found the picture of Hopper down on one knee proposing to Joyce. "Look how much in love you two look". He took the picture from her. "We do don't we? Why don't I remember?" . "Hey, it's ok, it'll come back and once you go home it will be much easier".
Hopper was shocked "home? I mean...how can I go back to live with Joyce and the kids when I don't remember anything?" . The nurse was very understanding and explained that Joyce was ready to have him home and not to worry". Hopper smiled, he smiled but that didn't mean he wasn't worried.
Back at Joyce's house, they were sat around the table talking through dinner. "So he remembered I like Eggos?" El smiled. " He did yes, it's going to be a slow process but once he's home it should get better". They all nodded in agreement. "Tomorrow, I'd like you three to come with me. He's going to come home soon, you guys should catch up before then".
The rest of the evening was quiet. Everyone was excited but apprehensive to see Hopper, El the most. In the middle of the night, for the first time in a long time, El crept into bed with Joyce.
