Single mother gambled her final $900 on a deserted house. The discovery inside transforms her life forever…

Tears slid silently down her cheeks. Had she made a terrible mistake? Had she risked everything, only to end up homeless anyway? In the morning, they were awakened by the sound of a vehicle coming up the driveway. An old pickup truck parked beside them, and an elderly woman with silver hair emerged, carrying a basket.

Maya got out of the car cautiously. Good morning, the woman called. I thought I saw lights up here last night.

I’m Iris Barnes. I live down the road. She held out the basket, brought you some breakfast, figured you might need it.

Maya accepted the basket, which contained still warm muffins, a thermos of coffee, and a bottle of orange juice. Thank you. I’m Maya Coleman, and this is my son Ethan.

We, uh, we just bought this place. Iris raised her eyebrows. Did you now? Well, you’re the first person brave enough to step foot in there since Josephine Mercer disappeared.

Disappeared? Maya repeated. Iris nodded. Back in 89, Josephine just vanished one day.

Some say she just up and left, but she wasn’t the type. Left everything behind. Clothes, car, personal items.

Police investigated but never found a trace. She lowered her voice. That’s why folks around here say the place is cursed.

Been sitting empty ever since. Ethan, now standing beside Maya, asked, Do you think it’s really cursed? Iris smiled at him. I don’t believe in curses, young man, but I do believe some houses hold onto memories.

Josephine was a good woman. Helped a lot of people around here with her remedies when they couldn’t afford doctors. Remedies? Maya asked.

She was an herbalist. Grew all sorts of medicinal plants on this property. People came from miles around when they needed healing.

Iris looked at the overgrown yard thoughtfully. Somewhere under all that wild growth, her gardens are probably still there. As they spoke, another vehicle approached.

A different pickup truck. This one newer. A middle-aged man with graying hair and a teenage girl who looked about Ethan’s age stepped out.

Morning, Iris, the man called. Thought you might be up here. He turned to Maya.

Sam Reynolds. This is my daughter, Lily. Maya recognized the name.

Reynolds. Were you at the auction yesterday? Sam nodded. That was me.

I flip houses sometimes. But when I saw you were so determined to get this one, he shrugged. Seemed like you needed it more than I did.

Maya felt a rush of gratitude. Thank you. I don’t know what to say.

Don’t thank me yet, Sam replied with a wry smile. This place is a monster. Brought some tools to help you assess what you’re dealing with.

Maya hesitated. I can’t pay anyone to help. I spent every hat on buying the house.

Did I ask to be paid? Sam said gruffly. It’s just being neighborly. Besides, no one should have to tackle the Mercer place alone.

For the first time since the auction, Maya felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe they weren’t completely alone in this after all. Over the next few days, Maya discovered just how enormous the task of making the house livable would be.

Sam, a contractor by trade, gave her the unvarnished truth after inspecting the property. The good news is the foundation is solid. Original stone from the 1800s, built to last.

The bad news is pretty much everything else, he explained as they stood in what would eventually be the kitchen. The roof needs complete replacement. The electrical wiring is ancient and dangerous.

Plumbing shot. And there’s enough mold in here to make anyone sick, let alone a kid with asthma. Maya’s heart sank.

How much would it cost to fix all that? Sam hesitated. Minimum? 30,000. And that’s with me doing the work at cost, and you helping.

The number hit Maya like a physical blow. 30,000 dollars might as well have been 30 million. With her credit score, no bank would loan her anything.

I don’t have that kind of money, she admitted. I don’t even have enough for a hotel tonight. Sam scratched his beard thoughtfully.

I’ve got a camping trailer you can use for now. It’s not fancy, but it’s clean, and it’s got working plumbing. We can park it on the property.

Maya swallowed her pride. We’ll pay you back, somehow. We’ll figure it out, was all Sam said.

Meanwhile, Ethan and Lily had been exploring the overgrown property, keeping a safe distance from the house itself. They discovered the remains of what must have been a large garden, now wild and overgrown, and an old well with a stone surround. Mom! Ethan called excitedly as he ran back to the house.

There’s apple trees back there. Tons of them. And Lily says some of the plants growing everywhere are herbs, not just weeds.

Lily, who had followed at a more sedate pace, nodded. My grandma taught me about herbs. There’s lavender, thyme, mint, and some others I don’t recognize growing all over back there.

They’ve gone wild, but they’re definitely planted, not random. Maya remembered what Iris had said about Josephine Mercer being an herbalist. Somehow, knowing that the previous owner had been a healer like herself, a nurse, created a strange connection across time.

That evening, as Maya and Ethan settled into the borrowed trailer, she tried to maintain a positive attitude for her son’s sake. It’s like camping, right? An adventure. Ethan was quiet for a moment, then asked, Why did you buy this place, Mom? Really? Maya considered how to answer…