Suzie caught up with Gabriel just as he rounded the final corner to the rooms of both Ian and Shelby. The boy was too fast for his short legs.
Suzie was panting as if she had just completed a marathon. She grabbed him to a standstill.
"Ah! Let me go!" His little voice echoed in the quiet corridor.
"Gabriel!"
With the shout, he stood still, his eyes lowered.
"I didn't do anything wrong! I just wanted to go see Mama Shelby."
"I know that, but your Mama Shelby is busy this morning, so you will have to play by yourself."
"She is busy too?"
"Who else is busy, Gabriel?" Suzie narrowed her eyes at him, getting on her knees so that she was at an eye-level with him.
Gabriel belatedly realized that he had said what he should not have.
"No one!" Then he quickly added, "Can I not really see her? Is she upset with Gabriel?"
"Of course not! She just needs some time to finish up a few details regarding your younger brother."
