"Thanksgiving has a pretty set menu, just a lot of variations," Bart points out. "I would have offered to help if you wanted."

He knows what it's like to always be second-guessing. He has his own insecurities, and David will call him on it quickly enough. "So far the stuff I've tried is at least as good as some of the society events I went to with Aunt Joan in Denver. And I doubt you're going to run out of mixers half-way through because everyone wants a drink in their hand to schmooze, but nobody wants to risk getting drunk at altitude."