By noon, half the town had heard that Sheriff Cole Tatum and Sadie Mae had gone pokin’ ‘round Lily Pearl’s place that morning, and by suppertime, the story had stretched itself taller than the steeple at First Baptist Church.

At the Huddle House, the booths were full of voices leaning low, spoons stirring coffee long gone cold.

Clara Mae sat at the corner table, knitting something she wasn’t watching. Clyde and Ol’ Man Eustace shared a booth near the window, both pretending they weren’t listening to the next one over, though neither fooled a soul.

“I heard,” said Bernice Loftin, lowering her voice like a conspirator, “that Cole found blood on the kitchen floor. Big pool of it, Sadie said.”

“Sadie didn’t say that,” Clara Mae cut in without looking up. “She said there was something, but she didn’t say blood.”

Bernice sniffed. “Well, what else could it be? Ghosts don’t leave nothin’ behind but cold air.”

Clyde chuckled low. “That’s where you’re wrong. I seen ghosts leave plenty. Doors open, lamps burn down to the wick, one even left a pie half-ate on a windowsill.”

Ol’ Man Eustace slapped the table. “That was you, Clyde. You et that pie.”

Clyde grinned but didn’t deny it.

Clara Mae dropped her yarn and sighed. “All I know is, Tommy Wayne came back, stirred up things best left settled, and now Lily Pearl’s place is whisperin’ again. That family never could rest quiet.”

Eustace leaned in, eyes shining like a boy at a ghost story. “You think he’s still out there?”

“I think,” Clara said slowly, “that if he is, he’s wishin’ he wasn’t.”

The diner door swung open then, the bell janglin’ sharp. Every head turned as Sheriff Cole stepped in, hat still damp from the drizzle outside. He nodded to Sadie behind the counter, then to the rest of them, as if he could feel the weight of their expectant eyes.

“Well?” Bernice blurted, unable to contain herself. “You find him?”

Cole paused, thumb tracing the brim of his hat. “House was empty,” he said. “But the kettle was still warm.”

The hush that followed was deep enough to hear the sizzle from the griddle.

Clara Mae crossed herself. “Lord help him,” she murmured.

Cole set his hat down slow. “There’s somethin’ else,” he said. “Found tracks out back, leadin’ down toward Terrapin Creek. Looked fresh, but they just… stopped. Like he walked straight into the water and never came out.”

No one spoke.

After a long minute, Sadie Mae said softly, “You think he’s gone for good?”

Cole shook his head once, his voice a low rumble. “No, ma’am. I think whatever called him back ain’t done with him yet.”

Outside, thunder rolled again, distant but sure, like a promise being kept.

*****

New Yesterdays can be found at: Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, as well as your favorite bookshops. The Audiobook is available from Libro.fm, as well as Amazon.