Delia Banks and her teenage son, Ned, lost their husband and father Charlie three years prior to their appearance on the show. Delia became a real estate agent after Charlie's death. Delia meets Melinda Gordon after Melinda calls Delia about Ned having tried to shoplift from Melinda's antique store. Delia tells Melinda about how stressful her job as a real estate agent is, so Melinda offers her a job to help work at the antique store, which Delia accepts. They begin a friendship, though Delia does not know about Melinda's gift at first. In the episode "Delia's First Ghost" Melinda has to tell Delia about her gift because Charlie's spirit is haunting her. At first Delia calls Melinda crazy, admitting that she had seen Melinda talking to herself and was worried. Delia even goes as far as to