Barry was met with looks of puzzlement when he set a serving platter of Yorkshire puddings and a jug of chicken gravy on the table.
Before he could explain what they were, the doorbell rang. This must have been a rare occurrence because everyone just stared at each other.
“Why don’t you get it, birthday boy?” Jake said, doing his best to hide a grin.
Jimmy stood. “Did you get me a male stripper?”
This was met with hoots and hollers from the other cowboys.
Jimmy left the room, which fell silent.
Barry heard the door being opened and an exclamation of, “Mom?”
All eyes turned to Jake.
“I asked Bess if she could come over. She said she’d try. I didn’t say anything in case she didn’t make it.”
Jimmy led a plump, grey-haired woman in her mid to late sixties into the dining room. Ever
