Kim Morales poses outside a now-closed Toys "R" Us in northeast Calgary on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. She worked there with her future partner, Mike Tabler, during the holiday rush of 2005. Mike Drew/Postmedia

When she was 16 years old, Kim Morales had her hands full working the Christmas rush at Toys “R” Us, with moms sparring over stuffed toys and dads enraged when their last-minute shop came up empty.

Still, running the toy store’s checkout didn’t stop her from stealing every possible moment with her teenage crush — and future partner — Mike Tabler.

“I was just in awe of Mike . . . I needed to be with him 24-7,” Morales said. “Like, this is the love of my life. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

The backdrop for Morales’ crush wasn’t exactly the stuff of a Hallmark movie, but it was clos

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