"Tom?" Charlie said. "Why are you .... oh. Hang on." He took the phone from his ear and pressed the speaker button. "Go on," he said.
"I'm sorry, Harry," Tom Jenkins said. "Deacon's with you, isn't he? Look, there's been a bit of an accident. It's icy here. As we were leaving the church a - er - car skidded and - and it hit some of us. Your mum and dad, and Hugh Parry and his missus. We - um - are waiting for the ambulances now."
"How are they?" Charlie asked, his voice strangled.
"Not too good, son," Tom said gently. "Maybe you - well - maybe you better come?"