Heaven & Earth: The Somewhere Under Heaven Series

Ashton's World

Ashton's POV

Hello. So I guess this is where the story begins. Hello, I'm Ashton Pattinson and I have a tale to tell.

My family is quite unique. My dad Rob is an actor who has done some rather interesting movies. He's played hoodlums, jaded lighthouse keepers, Batman, but you probably know him better as a vampire. Yeah, my dad was Edward Cullen in Twilight.  

My mom, Casey, is truly remarkable. She's a talented photographer and filmmaker who, alongside my dad, launched a studio before embarking on a second career as a writer and educator. Now an accomplished author, she also serves as the Assistant Dean of Students at Rider University. Her political engagement is notable too; she's been the mayor of Princeton and is a current member of the New Jersey State Assembly. Recently, she achieved the prestigious position of Speaker of the Assembly. At her latest swearing-in ceremony, I had the honor of standing beside Dad, Jaxon, and Katie, holding the Bible—an unforgettable moment.

My parents' story began when my mom assisted a friend with a Dior photoshoot. They grew to be best friends, and as time passed, he realized he was developing feelings for her. A year later, they fell in love, and not long after, they were organizing their dream wedding—a stunning cathedral ceremony in Philadelphia, which my dad felt my mom deserved. Following their wedding, they settled in Princeton, NJ, spent a few years in England, and then returned to Princeton.

I entered the world on May 12 at 11:51 PM in London, England. At that time, my parents resided in London, where my mother was expecting twins. I arrived first, followed by my twin sister, Katherine Loralei Pattinson, who made her debut at 12:03 AM on May 13. It's a situation that tends to confuse people, but it's also quite unique. My mother ensures that I celebrate at least a bit on May 12, but since the age of four, I've also wanted to mark the occasion on the 13th with my father and Katie. So, in a way, I celebrate two birthdays... it's a bit hard to explain.

My mother named me after my godfather, my uncle Shane Ashton Kelly, and my father named my sister Katie after my mother's favorite saint, St. Katherine Drexel, incorporating my mother's middle name, Loralei, as well. Choosing godparents for Katie proved challenging, but then my mother's cherished uncle Colin, along with our aunt Lizzy, graciously accepted the role. Remarkably, when we received confirmation in the Catholic Church, we were both sponsored by my mother's best friend from her MSNBC days, Rachel Maddow.

Tragically, I also had a younger sister, Loralei Victoria Elizabeth Pattinson, who passed away shortly after birth due to a birth defect. She was born a year after we returned to New Jersey. My father wished to honor my mother by giving her middle name to my sister, while my mother wanted to include the names of either Aunt Lizzy or Aunt Vic, with whom she was very close. They reached a compromise. The loss of Loralei was particularly devastating for my mother, as she had survived the same birth defect, but Loralei was too frail to overcome it.

People often say I'm an overachiever like Katie, but I don't see the resemblance. We both graduated with honors from high school and were accepted into Rider University. I received a soccer scholarship, while Katie earned an academic one. I chose to live on campus because of sports, whereas Katie resides at home in Princeton.

Katie was diagnosed with leukemia at 13 and underwent a bone marrow transplant, with our father as the donor due to his perfect match. She's been free of cancer for three years and created a documentary about her journey titled "Somewhere Under Heaven," which was universally acclaimed. At 14, she became one of the youngest filmmakers featured at Sundance, where she received several accolades.

Although I wasn't a match for Katie, I did match with my ex-girlfriend's brother and my uncle Shane, so I was able to donate to someone in need. Additionally, I volunteer to raise awareness about the importance of bone marrow donation, inspired by Katie's experience. This is also why I volunteer at Penn Medicine Princeton Health.

When I was 17, I received my license and took over my mom's old Jeep Wrangler. Katie, on the other hand, chose my dad's Jeep Compass when she got her license. Now at 19, I'm a sophomore at Rider University, majoring in Psychology and Biology, with plans to attend medical school after graduation. It seems I'm an overachiever, but that's typical for a Pattinson. Dad always says, "We don't do anything half-assed." This is also the same man who believes his children outperform him academically despite the fact that he went back to school himself on a dare from Mom's best friend. No really, my dad is right now finishing up an Associate's from Mercer County Community College in Communication and he's talking about transferring to a four-year school. I asked him where and he said, "Rider...where else?" 

Almost slipped my mind, but I do have a younger brother. His name is Jaxon, and he was adopted by my parents. Growing up, he was a friend to Katie and me, and intermittently our foster brother for years. Following a tragic incident where his stepfather took his mother's life and then his own, my parents welcomed him into our home and eventually made the adoption official. Truthfully, he's an amazing kid to have around.

Our tale begins with a formal event for some of the Greek organizations on campus. The events that unfolded would forever alter the course of my family's story.