A smiling Irene greeted her guests as they arrived at the door to her home.
Irene was a striking woman, with her silver mane, standing about 5'5" and about 130 pounds, she had the figure of a woman in her twenties, although Bill and Susan knew that she was in her late thirties. Her hair had turned white in her late twenties, making for a very striking appearance with her unlined face and lithesome figure. Her husband, Dave, was in his early forties and just as fit and attractive as his lovely wife. Dave had built a very successful architectural and construction company and had construction units building residential homes all over Northern California. Working in construction had kept him trim and fit. He was 6'1", well muscled at around 185 pounds with a flat stomach, strong arms and topped with a wild thatch of almost black hair beginning to gray at the temples.
He was very proud of this home that he had designed and built. A sprawling ranch home of 18 rooms, 6 of them bedrooms with private baths, it was perfectly suited to the style of entertainment that he and Irene enjoyed.
"Bill, Susan; I'm so glad you could come, and this must be your new neighbors you were telling me about."
"Yes," said Bill, this is Tom and Ann Honeby. They've become friends and we wanted them to meet you and Dave. They are not novices. As Susan had told you, they have an open marriage and have lived a similar lifestyle from when they first married."
"Welcome to my home," said Irene, "Everyone else arrived early, so you are the last. Dave is in with our other guests. Come, let's go meet them.
They entered the foyer to observe a home of open design, with more archways than doorways. One could see through a third of the house from the entryway. A formal living room to the left and a great room to the right with a large room a bit farther back that much resembled what were called 'conversation pits' in the sixties, though this was large enough to comfortable accommodate more than twenty people. Two hallways led from this room back to angled wings of the house.
Five couples were gathered with Dave in that large middle room, enjoying drinks and conversing as the last arrivals entered.
Irene clapped her hands, gaining the attention of all.
"Everyone, you know Bill and Susan, and this is our new guests Tom and Ann. I'll leave it to you to introduce yourselves. Dave, you know what Bill and Susan prefer to drink." Turning, she addressed the new couple. "And what can Dave get for you?"
"Oh, I'd just like a white wine", said Ann. "I'd like a brandy, if you have it", said Tom.
Dave stepped over to the well stocked bar in a corner of the room to fill his guests requests. "Tom", Dave said, "I want to ask your opinion sometime this weekend on some stocks I've been considering."
"Sure," Tom said, "I want to find out about your construction company too."