 Melinda had always been able to speak with the dead, or "earthbound spirits" as her grandmother called them (with whom she shared this ability, along with her mother Beth, her great grandmother Julia, and great-great grandmother Tessa).Apart from her husband Jim, Melinda shared her secret with quirky Professor Rick Payne, an expert in occult beliefs and history who thrives on helping her gain insights into the more baffling paranormal phenomena she encounters.Other individuals who are aware of her gift include Andrea Marino (her best friend and business partner; killed in the first season's finale), Delia Banks (Melinda's best friend) and her son, Ned Banks, RU psychology professor Eli James, and her son Aiden, as well as all the relatives or friends of ghosts she has helped.