The twelve-foot windows looked out over the gray light of Central Park, where silent snow was starting to stick to the bare branches of the oaks.

She pulled two canvas duffel bags down from the top shelf of the walk-in closet and laid them side by side on the king-size bed.

As she reached into the cedar chest at the bottom of the closet for the heavy fleece baby blankets, her hand brushed against a thick cream envelope tucked under a stack of folded winter sweaters.

Inside was an official document printed on heavy paper, stamped in blue by Chase Private Client Banking.