Sister And Best Friend
Malcolm’s relationship with Mara was similar to his relationship with Denise on many fundamental levels. Yet it differed in one. He was not romantically involved with Mara.
For Malcolm, a person who grew up a single child with little to no friends, Mara was the perfect sister and best friend. As he went out to buy a ring for Denise, he knew he couldn’t leave his best friend out of the picture.