Colin Kelly returns from the war with the sure knowledge that his marriage to Edna is a sham. He only insists on his own child and he gets her, his darling little girl Babs. For the rest, he copes as best he can until Edna places Babs in a boarding school and Colin ends up on the streets.<br><br>Bill Teague has loved Colin since he first saw him strolling through the art fair with little Babs on his shoulder. So when an old acquaintance calls him to come to Colin's aid before he throws him out of the pub for good, Bill goes.<br><br>Face to face in Bill's apartment, will their friendship survive the mutual confessions and legal problems Colin has?

A Permanent Arrangement

&ldquo;I got paid today. I thought about getting that room and a hot meal, being clean and seeing the doc, then I thought, for what. I don&rsquo;t have Babs; I had lost you long ago.&rdquo; The tears began pouring down his cheeks.


&ldquo;I never told you six years ago, Bill. I should have, but I never did. I&rsquo;ve had feelings for you. Feelings that aren&rsquo;t right. Ever since that day we spent putting together Babs&rsquo; duck after the ceiling caved in, I realized I was never attracted to women. If I had been, I would have cheated on Edna years ago. Bill. For you, I would lie, cheat, steal, and not give a damn. I&rsquo;ll never get Babs&rsquo; back. Edna&rsquo;s got that locked up tight. She hired some fancy assed lawyer.


&ldquo;They won&rsquo;t let me on the grounds of the school to see her. Edna has them convinced that I&rsquo;m a drunken menace. Six years ago, I had something to offer you Bill. Now I&rsquo;m a drunk in truth.&rdquo;


Chapter 6