Chapter 37
On March 15, Tony brought the official final copy home. It had been approved by Shelly and was scheduled to be published at the end of March, officially the April 2011 issue of Vanity Fair:
Anthony Rawlings introduces the world to the love of his life,
his wife Claire Rawlings—let the rumors cease and
learn how she has changed his life
By: Anne Robinson Photos by: Shaun Stivert
You don’t marry someone you can live with, you marry the person
who you cannot live without.—Unknown author
On a beautiful snowy day in the Midwest Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Rawlings sat down with Vanity Fair and addressed the questions, rumors, and realities of their acquaintance, courtship, engagement, and marriage. The exceedingly private man and his beautiful new bride graciously opened their home to our photographers and interviewer. (Photo of Tony and Claire dressed in casual elegant slacks and sweaters, sitting on a sofa in their gorgeous sitting room.)
The home of Anthony and Claire Rawlings is a stately 6,000 plus acre estate near Iowa City, Iowa. Most of the land is wooded, uninhabited, and unspoiled. Animal activists will be happy to know it is home to many indigenous woodland animals. Their residence is a spacious elegant home secluded within the private gates of this countryside. It was built by Mr. Rawlings approximately sixteen years ago and resembles a 1940s Romanesque-style mansion. The exterior has exquisite asymmetrical facades of river stone, limestone, and brick accentuated by round arches over windows and entryways. There are thick, cavernous entryways and window openings, thick masonry walls, and rounded towers with conical-style roofs. The main house is centered upon a round brick drive. Projecting from the main structure are wings of additional corridors and rooms. Upon entry you may feel you have entered a museum; however, the warmth and love radiated by these newlyweds soon help you to realize you have entered a family home, a quality Mr. Rawlings states was missing until recently.
It was late May of 2010 when Anthony Rawlings first introduced the city of Davenport to the then Claire Nichols. They attended the Quad City Symphony. Mr. Rawlings was asked to attend the event because of a generous donation made to both the Quad City Symphony and the Support the Arts Foundation. Mr. Rawlings has long been known for his generosity and pursuit of philanthropic endeavors. He is a firm believer in the arts, and continues to support endeavors that promote artistic pursuits. As a local celebrity, Mr. Rawlings was often seen attending functions in and around the Quad Cities (as well as in cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles). It was his companion on that evening that was unfamiliar. He had been seen on various occasions with different women, some with names we all recognize, such as Cynthia Simmons and Julia Owens. Truthfully, throughout his forty-six years he has been seen with many beautiful women. However, it was apparent to those present on that evening in May that this was different. Many on-lookers reported “glances” and “hand holding” that were not witnessed before. When discussing their first public “date,” Vanity Fair noted that the new Mrs. Rawlings couldn’t help look at her husband with blushed cheeks and a bashful smile. She stated that she recalled the standing ovation he received and how handsome she thought he looked. But she hastily added that at that time, neither of them was looking for a “long-term” relationship. Anthony said that he recalls seeing Claire when he picked her up for the symphony. He even recalled her outfit, a black dress with a beaded bodice, and that her hair was up with curls. (Anthony gently played with his wife’s hair as he described the style.) He remembered that she was stunning and he was proud to accompany her to the event.
VF: Now, ladies, ask your husband if he remembers what you were wearing on that first date! I had to think that Mr. Rawlings should have realized at that moment his heart was lost. I wanted to know how the two of them got to that first date. How did they meet?