Cedric
Cedric was the father of Malik Aziz Carter, Rashad, and Simone. He and the children’s mother, Eden, were separated, and he participated in raising Malik alongside Eden and the grandparents on both sides of the family.
Family and Core Relationships
Malik Carter
Cedric interpreted Malik’s precise communication as unnecessary rudeness and argumentativeness. Malik repeatedly tried to explain himself, but by college he had grown tired of the effort, and the two were not particularly close.
When Malik told Cedric that he had been accepted to American University, Cedric shrugged. On hearing that Malik intended to pursue law, he remarked that Malik would get paid to argue. Malik responded with a sigh.
During a later visit, Cedric interrupted Malik while he was explaining his interest in law to ask Rashad about basketball. He remembered Rashad’s next game but did not ask Malik comparable questions about his plans. Malik wanted Cedric to take an interest in what he hoped to do and let him finish speaking.
The following day, Eden texted Cedric while Malik slept after an exhausting shift. Cedric asked whether Malik was sick and said his mother had told him Malik had also slept at his house. When Eden asked about the university conversation, Cedric described his paid-arguing remark as a joke and told her, “I wasn’t putting him down.” Eden pressed him on whether he had congratulated Malik and explained why his response had hurt him. Cedric tried to call her, but she asked him not to call Malik that day because Malik wanted space. Cedric agreed and asked her to let him know when Malik woke.
Cedric had a longstanding habit of comparing Malik unfavorably with Logan Weston, whom he regarded as always one step ahead. When he remarked derisively, “Of course you got salutatorian to Logan Weston,” Malik replied, “What’s that got to do with anything?” The repeated comparisons frustrated Malik and contributed to his feeling that he was never good enough for Cedric.
Rashad and Simone
Cedric engaged with Malik’s younger brother, Rashad, and younger sister, Simone, during a visit when Malik spoke little and typed rapidly to a peer on his phone. Malik shared a bedroom with Rashad at Cedric’s house.
Parents
Cedric’s parents adored Malik, who was his mother’s oldest grandchild. Malik drove to Cedric’s house to see them when they wanted to see him. During a visit before Malik’s restaurant shift, Cedric disengaged while Malik was still speaking. Malik subsequently went upstairs to rest. After checking on her sleeping grandson, Cedric’s mother returned downstairs, worried about him, and told Cedric to stop being so hard on him.
Romantic and Significant Relationships
Eden
Cedric still loved Eden deeply after their separation. His difficulty listening to her was one of the reasons they had separated.