Maybe I love you

10. Hop's show

"Oh my God, honey, they're beautiful!"

"I agree with your mother, Jonathan. You have talent."

The Byers and Hoppers were in the kitchen, a small pile of pictures on the table.

Joyce was holding one where you could see Will and El jumping into the water at the same time to catch the ball.

The next one was a picture of El laughing, she was beautiful. Joyce handed it to Hopper, smiling, and he passed it to his daughter and took another one at random. He couldn't help but laugh as he looked at it.

"What's so funny?"

"You", he said, handing her the picture.

Joyce took it, her fingers touching Hopper's fingers. She felt a shiver run down her hand to her shoulder and it wasn't because of the wind.

She couldn't help smiling as she shook her head.
The picture showed Hopper carrying Joyce, probably into the lake. She was laughing and he was holding her firmly by the waist to prevent her from running away.

"I've made it in different sizes so you can keep one, and this one too."

Jonathan put the picture of Joyce and Hopper in several copies on the table, and then another of Will and El.

"Oh, thank you, Jonathan. They're all so beautiful", Joyce said, passing a loving hand through her son's hair.

Hopper took both pictures in his hand and stood up to prepare the table. He patted Jonathan affectionately on the back before taking the plates.

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

"Thank you again, Jonathan", Hopper said, smiling.

"You're welcome Hopper, it was nice spending this weekend with you both."

"Yeah, we should do it again some other time. I found it was great!" El said, smiling to his father. "I know I already told you last week in the car when you told me all the stuff about Joyce, but I'm telling you again."

Joyce frowned when she heard her name while her sons exchanged a knowing look with El and smiled.

Jonathan and Will walked away waving to El.

"The stuff about Joyce?" She asked, her eyebrows still furrowed.

"Uh, I... What? I don't know what she's talking about." Hopper panicked and shrugged his shoulders in an attempt to get a good measure.

"Of course you do. That's when I asked you if you l-"

Hopper placed his hand over his daughter's mouth, smothering the end of her sentence.

He laughed nervously before answering :
"Uh... It's late, she doesn't know what she's saying. You know, children sometimes... We'd better go", he said, gently pushing El towards the door, his hand still on her mouth to stop her talking.

"But you..." Joyce seemed completely lost.

"Well, see you tomorrow!"

He quickly slammed the door.

Oh my gosh, he thought with a sigh of relief, he turned around and almost walked into El who was motionless, her arms folded and her eyebrows furrowed.

"Why didn't you let me speak! Why didn't you tell her?"

"Because... because you were about to say something that should not be told!" He got upset while getting in the car.

"I don't see how you can know since you stopped me from saying anything!" She slammed the door with a sharp jerk, making him understand that she was angry, too.