Clean Slate
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Clean Slate

Produced by Luke Rafferty

Coaches: Mark Bennington, AJ Chavar

It was shortly before midnight when Jeffrey met Trudy for the first time. He was finishing last-minute work at a dealership as she began cleaning on the night shift. After a lifetime of heartache, financial trouble and addictions — now six years into sobriety — their newfound love is a welcome and unexpected twist.

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    Jeffrey Palms suffered from severe heroin and cocaine abuse. After serving eight years in prison, he connected with the Rescue Mission, where he worked hard to find a suitable job.

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    Jeffrey dries a car in the wash bay of Driver’s Village, where he works as a supervisor in the detailing department.

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    Jeffrey is the father of nine children, the youngest of which, Towanda, is 15 and lives with him. He works hard to pay bills and child support.

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    Trudy Falter and her son, Patrick, enjoy an afternoon fishing on the lake. Falter is a single mother who works as a house cleaner in Syracuse.

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    Trudy and Patrick find peace on the lake and enjoy the time alone together. The two make sure they always make time for each other and their passion: fishing.

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    Jeffrey and Trudy laugh and tell stories during dinner with Jeffrey's daughter, Towanda. Towanda was reluctant to accept Trudy at first, but has grown comfortable with her father's new relationship over time.

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    Jeffrey and Towanda mess around while waiting for dinner. Jeffrey acts as Towanda's friend, while teaching her respect and discipline that she'll need growing up in the city.

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    Jeffrey and Trudy embrace after their date night. While the two come from different backgrounds, they have worked to accept each other’s differences and teach their families to do the same.

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    Jeffrey, 49, takes a break from his job at Drivers' Village. He recognizes he made many wrong, reckless decisions when he was younger, but is thankful for the clean slate and that he is "still young."

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    “It was that sort of 'love at first sight' sort of thing," Jeffrey recalled about meeting Trudy at Driver’s Village. She was cleaning on the overnight shift and he was wrapping up for the day.

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    Jeffrey, Towanda and Trudy packed up and drove down to New Jersey to meet Jeffrey's family. It’s the first time Trudy is meet them and she’s excited, though nervous, about the reception.