Mum died last week, a couple of days before Alex’s fifth birthday. Mum wrote him a card, and bought him a scooter, which I wrapped, and he loved.

Somewhere, deep down behind her ribcage, was a blockage, her pulse barely a murmur in the lead-up to the heart attack. Might have stopped it, said the doctor, if they had known the extent of the problem.

I baked all day. Filled the sink with dirty dishes, tray after tray slid into the oven until the element gave up. I kicked it, hard, again and again. The door to the kitchen creaked. Saw my son kneeled down, and peeking through the gap.

‘It’s okay, baby,’ I said, crouching down. But I knew that one day, he’d remember.

You Belong Here  is the story of the Slaters, outsider children who help, hurt and heal each other while chasing the security they lost after their parents’ divorce. It’s an exploration of love, loss and redemption played out against the ever-changing backdrop of Perth, Western Australia. 

It is about partners, friends, and difficult family dynamics. In Jen, Jason, Jay, Alex and Emily, are people that we’ve known, loved and lost. It’s funny, has heart, and is imbued with hope.

You Belong Here  is the debut novel from Patricia Hackett Prize winning author Laurie Steed. It traces the life of a developing city, and in doing so, suggests that as buildings are demolished, and people relocate, our memories dissipate. What’s left is more transient: a split community and, within that community, a family, forever seeking something to hold on to.