A Texas waitress says she was thrilled to receive a $2000 tip, just in time for the Holidays. Emily Bauer was surprised to get such a generous tip after working for only two weeks. But, she soon learned that the restaurant management had other plans.

21-year-old Emily was working a Sunday shift at Red Hook Seafood and Bar in San Antonio. She kept apologizing to one man for being too slow, and at some point, he canceled the order, saying that he has restaurants and understands her position.

But, the man did ask to pay for his order, and that's when he left a generous tip and a sweet note. Here's what Emily has to say about this encounter.

"Merry Christmas! Keep working hard!"

Bauer explained to the local news that she was quite overworked, and the man was full of compassion.

"He was just like, 'I understand.' He also mentioned he owned restaurants, so he knew how hard it was to be a server."

Then the man wanted his check, without even receiving the order:

"He was like, 'Just cancel everything. Cancel everything and give me the ticket.' So, I said okay. I gave him the ticket."

Bauer said she didn't notice until he left that he had given her a $2000 tip and wrote a note that said:

"Merry Christmas! Keep working hard!"

Of course, the young mom of two was crying happy tears:

"I just opened it and started crying. I was like, "Oh my God! My kids! I'm going to spend it all on my kids"

"I've never had a Christmas where I've been able to like splurge on them."

Emily's happiness was interrupted

The working mom was ready to collect her tips once the busy shift was over, but the restaurant management told her that they were unable to process tips larger than $500. Imagine her disappointment!

She then asked them to get her tips split into four payments, but the answer was "no." Emily said at the time:

"Everybody I've talked to has been like, "I've never heard of that before.'"

"If it's left to you and signed by that person, then you should be able to get it."

Despite her desperation, Emily wanted to call the customer and thank him, but the managers declined to tell her anything, so she shared a message on her Facebook:

"Even though I can't receive it, thank you. Thank you for having such a big heart."

The restaurant tells a different story

While Emily's post was getting attention, Red Hook Seafood and Bar was keeping quiet. However, at some point, they decided to say their side of the story.

The restaurant's management used Facebook, too, to explain their version of events. Their post claimed that the card was declined. They called the generous customer to ask him to come and give cash or write a check to Emily.

You can see the original message, but wait, this story can't end without the final twist.

Emily and the kids will have a very merry Christmas!

After the story went viral, the restaurant lost customers. We have no idea whether the owner is actually a great guy or simply wanted to bring back his business. Either way, he decided to give the money to Emily from his own pocket.

The generous tipper never showed up, but the owner said he wanted to make the situation right. Emily and her young children will have a great Christmas, despite having an awful year.

She told The Post:

"We had such a rough year."

Bauer added that her boyfriend got laid off earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet she stayed optimistic:

"I was praying for something like that happening."

Though the whole experience was frustrating, the family can relax and enjoy the holidays. As for the restaurant's owner, he did the right thing, which probably saved a few more jobs and his business.