The Quite Ridge

Chapter 5 – Sadie

By the time the day started winding down, I was counting the minutes without meaning to. The calls had slowed, the light outside shifting lower, stretching shadows across the yard in a way that made everything feel quieter than it had all afternoon. Maddie was still moving around, finishing up small things, closing out what needed to be done, talking like she always did, but even she seemed a little slower now.

I tried to stay focused on what was in front of me, organizing papers that were already organized, checking the board again even though nothing had changed. Anything to keep my mind from drifting back to the phone sitting on the desk beside me. It hadn’t buzzed again. That didn’t make me feel better. It made everything feel like it was waiting.

“You’ll get used to this part,” Maddie said, glancing over. “End of the day’s always a little weird. Too quiet after everything.”

“Yeah,” I said.

She leaned against the counter for a second. “They’ll be back soon.”

My chest tightened before I could stop it. I didn’t ask who she meant. I already knew.

The sound of a truck pulling in cut through the quiet outside, gravel shifting under heavy tires. My eyes moved to the window before I could stop them. Another truck followed, then another, the yard slowly coming back to life in a way that felt too loud after the stillness.

“Right on time,” Maddie said, pushing off the counter. “That’ll be them.”

Voices carried in through the open air, louder now, familiar even though I’d only heard them once. Doors slammed. Someone laughed. Movement filled the space again, breaking whatever quiet had settled over everything.

I stayed where I was. Didn’t move. Didn’t step toward the door. I wasn’t sure why.

Boots hit the ground outside, steady, heavier than the others. I didn’t need to see him to know. My grip tightened slightly on the edge of the desk.

“Give it a week,” Maddie said. “You won’t even think about it anymore.”

I nodded, even though I knew that wasn’t true.

The office door opened. I didn’t look up right away. I told myself I didn’t need to, that it didn’t matter, that he didn’t matter.

“You survived your first day?” Jace’s voice came in first, easy and loud like before.

“Barely,” Maddie said back. “I’m ready to be done.”

I heard movement, felt the shift of bodies in the room without looking. Papers set down. Something dropped onto the counter. Normal things. Normal sounds.

Then his voice came, lower, steady. “Everything going alright?”

I looked up.

He was already looking at me.

Just for a second.

That was all it took.

“Yeah,” I said. My voice came out even. Careful.

He gave a small nod like that was enough, like he believed it, like it didn’t matter either way.

Then he moved past it.

Didn’t say anything else. Didn’t stop.

He grabbed something from the counter like that was the only reason he came in.

He didn’t look at me again.

That should’ve made it easier.

It didn’t.

Because for a second, it felt like he saw it anyway.

And just chose not to say anything.