The Backstory
Deciding to open a bookstore in downtown Cary was simultaneously the most terrifying and exhilarating thing I could do. If you followed our earlier posts, then you know the journey.
There’s still one thing you don’t know.
After we signed the lease on March 1st and jumped off that cliff into the wild unknown, we had about a month of joyous planning and preparing. Then, on April 2, 2026, a bomb dropped. After an excruciating headache sent my husband, Craig, to the ER, the scans revealed a tumor behind his left eye, tangled up with other essential structures that he needs to live. So many people have walked this path before us, but this was our first up close and personal introduction to cancer. We were not pleased to make its acquaintance.
Talk about a moment of crisis. Can a person take on the most challenging project of her life while also attempting to support and care for a husband undergoing the battle of his life? Is that even possible, especially when said husband is also the bookstore’s IT support, handyman, carpenter, security specialist and more.
As you can see, Juliet Books did open on July 28 – at least a full month later than we initially planned. The cancer treatments were brutal, but the last dose of radiation will happen this Tuesday. Then he begins his recovery and healing. Through the hair loss, the energy loss, the taste loss – all the losses – he still showed up for me and for the store. Without him, Juliet Books would not be here.
It reminds me of the saying: be kind to people, you never know what they’re going through. The entire community has shown up for Juliet Books, and we could not be happier or more grateful.
And yes, F*CK CANCER!
