Feelin' 22, Caitlin Clark + Nika Muhl

Home Sweet Home

"I'm so excited." Lily and I rolled our bags through the bustling airport side by side, our fingers intertwined as we held hands. The energy in the air was electric with the anticipation of our trip, and I could feel Lily's excitement radiating through her grip. I think she was more excited than I was, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"Me too." Our arms and hands swung back and forth aggressively as we walked, matching the rhythm of our steps. The sound of rolling suitcases and the chatter of fellow travelers filled the space around us.

"Momma Reed's cooking be so good. My mom always got Turkey out the can for Thanksgiving." Lily's voice was filled with genuine enthusiasm, her face lighting up at the thought of the delicious homemade meals awaiting us.

"Ew." I looked over at her, scrunching my nose in playful disgust.

"I know, right." She giggled, her laughter blending with the hum of the airport. We stepped outside the automatic doors, the cool breeze hitting our faces as we made our way to the pickup area.

"Mom said she's parked right out front." Both of our eyes scanned the area, searching for the familiar sight of my mom's car. The excitement was palpable, and I could feel my heart beating faster with anticipation.

"There!" Lily pointed to my mom and brother who were standing outside of the vehicle, waving us down with big smiles on their faces. We both ran over to them, our bags bouncing behind us. Lily hugged my mom first, wrapping her arms around her tightly, while I hugged my brother

"Hi mom!" Lily ran into her arms like a child, her happiness evident in the way she clung to her.

"Hi baby." My mom gave her the tightest hug, her face glowing with affection. Sometimes I think she loved Lily more than me, but I couldn't help but smile at the sight of their bond. It was moments like these that made me grateful for the people in my life.

"Hey lil bro." I pulled my brother in for a tight hug, feeling the familiar warmth of his embrace. "Why do you get bigger every time I see you? What are they feeding you?" I ruffled his hair playfully, marveling at how much he'd grown since the last time I saw him.

"Yeah, you can't beat on me no more." He grinned, puffing out his chest in mock bravado.

"Who can't?" I teased, grabbing him by the neck and pulling him into a headlock. We started to wrestle, our laughter echoing through the parking lot. His strength had definitely increased, but I wasn't about to let him win that easily.

"Alright, cut it out y'all." My mom's voice cut through our playful scuffle, and we both stopped wrestling instantly, straightening up and looking a bit sheepish. "Give me some love." She held out one arm for me while the other was still wrapped around Lily's waist. Her smile was warm and inviting, and I couldn't resist stepping into her embrace.

My brother joined in on the hug, and we stood there for a moment, wrapped in a cocoon of familial love. The scent of my mom's familiar perfume filled the air, bringing back memories of countless other reunions. After a moment, we reluctantly pulled away, and my brother quickly moved to help me and Lily with our luggage.

We worked together to lift our bags into the trunk, the excitement of the upcoming holiday making the task feel light and effortless. As we finished, I glanced over at Lily, who was chatting animatedly with my mom.

Lily sat up front with my mom while I settled into the backseat with Darren. As we pulled away from the airport, my mom glanced back at us with a warm smile. "So how's college been treating you two?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

"It's been so much fun, Mom," Lily chimed in first, her enthusiasm evident. "The girls have a future of dubs." She turned her head to look at me in the backseat, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Iowa better give it their all if they plan on beating us this year." She playfully punched my knee, her competitive spirit shining through.